Tamdhu 10 Years Old 1994 Cask #1992 (Signatory)

Signatory Vintage selected this Tamdhu, a 10 year old from 1994, drawn from cask 1992 and bottled at 60.5%. 548 bottles in all. Tamdhu was established in 1897 on the banks of the Spey in Speyside; its rich, sherried malt has a devoted following. Ian Macleod runs Tamdhu alongside Glengoyne and Rosebank.

Distilled in copper onion stills on Tamdhu Spring water, for a rich Speyside spirit built to take sherry wood. Maturation in Oloroso sherry laid fig and raisin over the spirit. Still young, the malt is fruity and sherried with a soft spice. A patient maturation suits the rich, sherried Tamdhu character. The arrival of the Strathspey railway in the 1860s made the distillery possible. For decades its malt fed blends such as the Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark. 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.

At its natural 60.5% it is concentrated. The Oloroso brings raisin, walnut and dark sugar. A baked apple and a warm ginger lift it. It closes long, sherried and warm. This is a deep, fruity Speyside single malt.