Tamdhu 10 Years Old 2013 Cask #354 (A.D. Rattray)

This is a Tamdhu single malt, chosen and bottled by A.D. Rattray, a 10 year old Speyside malt from 2013, drawn from cask 354 and bottled at 65%. The outturn was 293 bottles. Tamdhu was first built in 1897 by a blending consortium on a Speyside site once known for smuggling, and it has been the sherried face of Speyside since its revival. For decades its malt fed blends such as the Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.

Distilled on soft Speyside water in onion stills, building the rich, sherried style Tamdhu is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the orchard fruit. At this age the spirit is fresh and fruity, the sherry bright over orchard fruit. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the sherried, fruity core over time. The distillery was built on a spot once known for illicit distilling. A full, fruity spirit gives Tamdhu the weight to carry active sherry wood. An in house cooperage was set up in 2019 to manage its sherry casks.

At a natural 65% it is full and rich. The American oak brings vanilla and a honeyed apple. A dried fruit and a nutty oak give it real depth. The finish runs rich, nutty and spiced. This is Ian Macleod's sherry led Speysider.