Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram (60.7%)

A distillery bottling of Tamdhu and bottled at 60.7%. 1000 bottles in all. Tamdhu, founded in 1897 by a group of blenders by the Spey at Knockando, is famed for its sherry cask whisky. Water comes from the Tamdhu Spring, the distillery set on the banks of the Spey.

It was drawn off copper pot stills fed by the Tamdhu Spring, for the full, fruity make that suits sherry maturation. Sherry seasoned oak gave the dried fruit richness Tamdhu is known for. With no age statement, it shows a rich, sherried body and ripe dried fruit. The cool Speyside climate gives a slow, even maturation over many years. The Spey valley's cool air gives a slow, even maturation in the warehouses. Tamdhu was built in 1897 by a consortium of blenders led by William Grant. The arrival of the Strathspey railway in the 1860s made the distillery possible. For decades its malt fed blends such as the Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark. Mothballed in 2010, the distillery was revived by Ian Macleod and relaunched in 2013.

At cask strength 60.7% it is rich and full. The Oloroso brings fig, date and a gingered oak. The mouthfeel is rich, the fruit carried on a sherried body. The finish is deep, waxy and spiced. This is a sherry matured Speyside single malt.