Tamdhu 13 Years Old 1990 Cask #9041 – 43 (Ian Macleod)

This Tamdhu was from the independent bottler Ian Macleod, aged 13 year old from 1990, drawn from cask 9041 - 43 and bottled at 43%. The outturn was 2868 bottles. Set at Knockando on the River Spey, Tamdhu has distilled since 1897. Under Ian Macleod it is matured chiefly in sherry seasoned Spanish and American oak.

It was worked through onion stills for a rich Speyside spirit, then filled into sherry seasoned casks, the heart of the Tamdhu style. An Oloroso sherry cask wrapped the malt in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Mid age brings a deeper sherry and a riper dried fruit note. Refill oak lets the fruity distillery character lead beneath the sherry. 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. Tamdhu was built in 1897 by a consortium of blenders led by William Grant. The arrival of the Strathspey railway in the 1860s made the distillery possible.

At 43% it is soft, fruity and sherried. The Oloroso brings fig, raisin and a gentle ginger. It is full and deep, the sherried spirit shining through. It closes long, sherried and warm. This is Tamdhu's classic sherried Speyside style.