Tamdhu 7 Years Old 2008 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited Edition (Morrison and MacKay)

Morrison and MacKay bottled this Tamdhu single malt, a 7 year old release from 2008 and bottled at 46%. A release of 887 bottles. Tamdhu, built in 1897 on the banks of the Spey in Speyside, is famed for its sherry cask whisky. 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. At a youthful age the fruit is vivid and the sherry clear. Years in oak round the spirit, the dried fruit and spice deepening with age. The River Spey runs past the distillery on its way to the Moray coast. 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.

At 46% it is smooth and sherried. Ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla, honey and orchard fruit. It is deep and fruity, the sherry and oak well matched. Fig, raisin and oak see out a long finish. This is a rich, sherried Speyside single malt.