Tamdhu 14 Years Old 2001 Cask #DL 10994 (Old Particular)

This Tamdhu was from the independent bottler Douglas Laing matured to 14 year old from 2001, drawn from cask DL 10994 and bottled at 48.4%. 328 bottles in all. Established in 1897 at Knockando on the River Spey, Tamdhu is a sherry led Speyside malt. 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. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the malt to the fore. Around the mid teens the malt gains a fuller dried fruit over the orchard fruit. Refill oak lets the fruity distillery character lead beneath the sherry. The distillery was built on a spot once known for illicit distilling. A full, fruity spirit gives Tamdhu the weight to carry active sherry wood. 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.

At a natural 48.4% it is full and rich. Ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla, honey and orchard fruit. Beneath it run fig, raisin and a warm spice. It closes long, sherried and warm. This is Tamdhu's classic sherried Speyside style.