Tamdhu 28 Years Old GSL 88° Proof (George Strachan Ltd. of Deeside)

From George Strachan Ltd. of Deeside comes this Tamdhu matured to 28 year old and bottled at 49.1%. Opened in 1897 on the banks of the Spey in Speyside, Tamdhu is a sherry led Speyside malt. Water comes from the Tamdhu Spring, the distillery set on the banks of the Spey.

Distilled in copper onion stills on Tamdhu Spring water, for a rich Speyside spirit built to take sherry wood. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the malt to the fore. Long ageing brings a dense dried fruit, leather and a mellow oak spice. Years in oak round the spirit, the dried fruit and spice deepening with age. 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. The River Spey runs past the distillery on its way to the Moray coast. Ian Macleod runs Tamdhu alongside Glengoyne and Rosebank.

Bottled at a cask strength 49.1%, it is intense. Honeyed vanilla and apple come through from the oak. A dried fruit and a nutty oak give it real depth. The finish is deep, waxy and spiced. This is a sherry matured Speyside single malt.