Tamdhu 25 Years Old 1988 Cask #HL 13605 (Old Malt Cask)

Single malt Tamdhu, an independent Hunter Laing bottling, a 25 year old from 1988, drawn from cask HL 13605 and bottled at 53.6%. Just 237 bottles were filled. Tamdhu was founded in 1897 at Knockando on the River Spey; it is famed for its sherry cask maturation. The old Knockando railway station serves as the distillery's visitor centre.

It was worked through onion stills for a rich Speyside spirit, then filled into sherry seasoned casks, the heart of the Tamdhu style. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. Long ageing brings a dense dried fruit, leather and a mellow oak spice. Dunnage and racked warehousing on site gives a slow maturation by the Spey. Mothballed in 2010, the distillery was revived by Ian Macleod and relaunched in 2013. Sherry casks, both Spanish and American oak, define the modern Tamdhu. The name Tamdhu is Gaelic for little dark hill, and the architect was Charles Doig.

Bottled at a cask strength 53.6%, it is intense. Vanilla, honey and a soft apple come from the bourbon wood. Soft orchard fruit and raisin sit behind the spice. The close is warm, dried fruit over soft oak. This is the sherry cask malt of Knockando.