Tamdhu 15 Years Old 2006 Cask #800693 (PerfectDram)

This Tamdhu was from the independent bottler PerfectDram, a 15 year old Speyside malt from 2006, drawn from cask 800693 and bottled at 51.2%. The outturn was 220 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. Under Ian Macleod it is matured chiefly in sherry seasoned Spanish and American oak.

Distilled on soft Speyside water in onion stills, building the rich, sherried style Tamdhu is known for. Ex-Bourbon casks held the spirit, soft oak that lets the fruit lead. Around the mid teens the malt gains a fuller dried fruit over the orchard fruit. The fragrant, fruity spirit has the weight to stand up to active sherry wood. 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 51.2%, it is intense. The American oak brings vanilla and a honeyed apple. It is full and deep, the sherried spirit shining through. It finishes rich, fruity and warming. This is Tamdhu's classic sherried Speyside style.