Tamdhu distillery was founded in 1896 in the Speyside village of Knockando, Scotland. Much of the next century passed without note, including some periods of dormancy related to war and supply shut off, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that more investments were made to increase production output. It is the last distillery in Scotland to use a Saladin box in production. Currently able to produce 4.5 million liters a year, most of the Tamdhu spirit is used in blended scotches like The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark. However, some single malts do escape. This Tamdhu 15 is, like all their single malts, completely matured in ex-sherry casks.
Distillery: Tamdhu
Region: Speyside
Age: 15 years
Strength: 46%
Price: $129.99
Maturation: ex-sherry cask maturation
Location: Knockando
Nose: Sherry, blood orange, candy, apple blossom, honey, cream, marshmallow, leather
Palate: Oak, chocolate, fig, eucalyptus, floral, cinnamon, brine
Finish: Honey, citrus, apple cider, sherry, bitter
Comments: Water is not needed. What is needed is some time sitting in the glass to oxidize.
Adam – Tamdhu was one of the first Speyside scotches to unlock the region for me. I had started my scotch journey, like many others, with Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, but grew lukewarm after trying other regions. It wasn’t until some years later I found again the delight these whiskies can have. The Tamdhu 15 rides its maturation fully. The fruit and sweetness in the nose is a harvest banquet, much like I remember the Tamdhu 10 being. The tannins are strong on the outset of the palate but flowers and spices accompany a sweet second act that brings the fruits and honey from the nose back to the finish. I was unsure about this my first dram or two out of the bottle but a little oxygen goes a long way toward balancing this gem of a scotch out into its full glory.
Kate – I think the nose is the star of this show. Like a crisp spring morning. I am so distracted by the actual taste that I don’t want to dissect it. It’s spicy, heavy on the tannins, briny, cinnamon, then turns sweet like dew. The finish is briny and dry with a lot of oak. Almost apple cider right before it turns. It lasts a long time.
Bill – The Tamdhu 15 is extremely well balanced. And because of that, it’s hard to tease out what kind of story this whisky is trying to tell. And I’m not sure it’s figured itself out but it is still delightful. Like building the plane while flying it.
A little oxygen goes a long way toward balancing this gem of a scotch out into its full glory.
Henry – Beautiful nose with candied orange peel, apple blossoms, and a spring garden of flowers with a rich background of sherry. Oak thunders in on the palate, obliterating the sweetness and hint of sherry brininess with a punch of astringency. There might be some menthol or even eucalyptus under there, but it’s hard to tell under the oak. The finish is austere, with a long, lingering dryness – such a departure from the opulence of the nose. If you drink a generous pour, you can get a bit of the sweetness and spice to return on the finish, but generosity is required.
Ben – It feels like I’ve had a mouthful of wine, dry and full of tannins. The Tamdhu 15 isn’t a loser. It’s interesting. It does something different than other things do. I’ve had other Tamdhu drams. The nose is the big winner, right up front with the sherry. It’s a delight. The granny smith apple element isn’t my favorite thing on the palate but at least it ends okay. And if you let it sit out, the more oxygen it gets, the better. It might be a relationship glass rather than a one night stand glass.
