Tamdhu 24 Years Old 1997 Cask #71 (Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers)

This is a Tamdhu single malt, chosen and bottled by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, a 24 year old from 1997, drawn from cask 71 and bottled at 48%. 215 bottles in all. Tamdhu was opened in 1897 in Knockando, in the heart of Speyside; it once ran the last Saladin box maltings in Scotland. For decades its malt fed blends such as the Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.

The spirit was run through the distillery's onion shaped stills, and laid down in Oloroso casks for its sherried depth. An Oloroso sherry cask wrapped the malt in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Past twenty years the spirit turns rich and waxy while keeping its fruit. The full bodied make carries the sherry cask well across long maturation. An in house cooperage was set up in 2019 to manage its sherry casks. Tamdhu sits among the great sherried Speysiders, a sister to Macallan in style. The Spey valley's cool air gives a slow, even maturation in the warehouses.

At a full 48% it is bold and fruity. The Oloroso brings fig, date and a gingered oak. Beneath it run fig, raisin and a warm spice. The close is warm, dried fruit over soft oak. This is Ian Macleod's sherry led Speysider.