Tamdhu Batch Strength / Batch No 2

Tamdhu Batch # 002 has received a lot of favourable attention since its release. I thank @Maddie for the reviewed samples. The reviewed bottle has been open for 6 weeks at the time of the review notes and was 95% full

Two searches both revealed to me in Tamdhu's own postings that "Batch Strength" means no more nor less than "bottling strength". In other words there is no reason whatsoever to print those words on the bottle labels. Without Tamdhu saying so openly I conclude that Tamdhu coined this nebulous and meaningless term to mean, roughly, "We tried the whisky and decided that this is the strength that we liked best, so we are bottling the BATCH at this STRENGTH. We are inventing the term Batch Strength to indicate that while we are diluting this from its full Cask Strength, that we have chosen a unique non-standardised, non-whole-integer and relatively high ABV at which to bottle the whisky." They didn't say that, but that's what I think that they mean. I do hope that this addition to the already substantial canon of confusing and misleading Scottish Whisky verbiage does not develop a following. When every single whisky in existence is bottled at Batch Strength, then the term has no meaning whatsoever...other than to be proudly obfuscatory, and to indulge in 'repetitious redundancy' . Tamdhu Batch # 002 was matured exclusively in sherry casks and carries no age statement

Nose: sherry mostly, with a hint of barley; on the sweet side of the scale. This sherry seems both sharp and a little edged at the same time. Very nice. Water added raises the pitch, increases the sweetness, and adds to the beauty. Score: 21.5/25 neat; 23/25 with water

Taste: excellent translation to the mouth with greater intensity of the flavour. The sherry flavours are delicious in an aggressive rather than lush sort of way. This is a beautiful delivery. As with the nose, this is excellent with water added. Score: 23.5/25 neat and with water

Finish: long finish, which moves a little toward bitter grape skins. Water added much improves the finish. Score: 21/25 neat; 23/25 with water added

Balance: very good in the nose; excellent on the palate; fair to very good (with water added) on the finish. Score: 22/25 neat; 23/25 with water added

Total Sequential Score: 88 points neat; 92.5 points with water added

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Strength: moderate on the nose and finish; very strong on the delivery. Score: 21.5/25

Quality: very good wine flavours; good grain flavours; invisible wood flavours. Score: 21/25 neat; 23/25 with water added

Variety: good harmony throughout. Score: 21/25

Harmony: very good harmony in the nose; excellent harmony on the palate; adequate harmony on the finish. Score: 21.5/25 neat; 23/25 with water added

Total Non-Sequential Score: 85 points neat; 88.5 points with water added

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Comment: Tamdhu Batch # 002 is a solid choice in sherried malt. I would describe it as slightly lighter in style than Aberlour A'bunadh, Glendronach Cask Strength, Amrut Intermediate Sherry Matured, or Glenfarclas 105. A near comparison in style would be The Balvenie's 17 yo Doublewood. Tamdhu Batch # 002 is adequately good neat, but rises to highly desirable with a couple of drops of water added

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