Tamdhu 17 Years Old 2004 Cask #DL 14728 (Old Particular)

Douglas Laing selected this Tamdhu, aged 17 year old from 2004, drawn from cask DL 14728 and bottled at 48.4%. The outturn was 280 bottles. Set by the Spey at Knockando, Tamdhu has distilled since 1897. Ian Macleod runs Tamdhu alongside Glengoyne and Rosebank.

It was drawn off copper pot stills fed by the Tamdhu Spring, for the full, fruity make that suits sherry maturation. Sherry seasoned oak gave the dried fruit richness Tamdhu is known for. Past a decade the fruit deepens into fig, raisin, nuts and a warm ginger spice. Spanish and American oak sherry casks build the layered Tamdhu profile. Ian Macleod runs Tamdhu alongside Glengoyne and Rosebank. Water is drawn from the Tamdhu Spring on the Speyside site. 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.

At 48.4%, undiluted, it is deep and sherried. The Oloroso brings a rich, sherried fruitiness. A dried fruit and a nutty oak give it real depth. Fig, raisin and oak see out a long finish. This is a deep, fruity Speyside single malt.