Tamnavulin 11 Years Old 2010 Exploration Series (Claxton’s)

Claxton's selected this Tamnavulin, aged 11 year old from 2010 and bottled at 50%. Tamnavulin was founded in 1966 on the banks of the River Livet; it is named for the old mill that stood on its site. Mothballed in 1995, the distillery reopened in 2007 and launched its single malt in 2016.

It was drawn off stills whose purifiers lift only the lightest vapours, for a delicate, floral spirit. A sherry cask finish wrapped the light spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. At this age the spirit is fresh and fruity, the apple and pear bright. Cask finishing is central to the modern Tamnavulin style, layering extra fruit. It is one of the few distilleries to sit right on the River Livet. For decades the malt fed the Whyte and Mackay blends rather than single malt. Mothballed in 1995, the distillery reopened in 2007 and launched its single malt in 2016.

At cask strength 50% it is full bodied. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, Christmas cake and a nutty depth, and a gentle vanilla from the wood runs under a clean, honeyed fruitiness. A dried fruit and a gentle oak spice give it depth. Honey and orchard fruit see out the finish. This is a soft, cask finished Speysider.