Tamdhu 34 Years Old 1989 Cask #12881 (Connoisseurs Choice)

Gordon & MacPhail bottled this Tamdhu single malt, a 34 year old from 1989, drawn from cask 12881 and bottled at 54.8%. 95 bottles in all. Tamdhu was established in 1897 on the banks of the Spey in Speyside; its rich, sherried malt has a devoted following. Tamdhu ran the last Saladin box maltings in Scotland, the boxes still standing on site.

Distilled in copper onion stills on Tamdhu Spring water, for a rich Speyside spirit built to take sherry wood. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and honey. Beyond twenty years the malt grows deep and rich, fig, raisin and walnut over a waxy oak. Years in oak round the spirit, the dried fruit and spice deepening with age. 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 cask strength 54.8% it is rich and full. Ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla, honey and orchard fruit. It is deep and fruity, the sherry and oak well matched. A warming, sherried finish lingers. This is a rich, sherried Speyside single malt.