Tamdhu 8 Years Old 2013 Cask #353 (A.D. Rattray)

A Tamdhu single malt, selected and bottled by A.D. Rattray matured to 8 year old from 2013, drawn from cask 353 and bottled at 66.8%. Only 209 bottles were released. Founded in 1897 in Knockando, Speyside, Tamdhu is a sherry led Speyside malt. Mothballed in 2010, the distillery was revived by Ian Macleod, who relaunched the single malt in 2013.

The spirit was made in copper stills and filled into sherry seasoned oak, for a fragrant, fruity spirit with weight for the cask. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the malt to the fore. Younger here, it keeps a lively fruit over a developing sherry depth. First fill Oloroso casks drive the rich, dried fruit character Tamdhu is known for. Tamdhu sits among the great sherried Speysiders, a sister to Macallan in style. The Spey valley's cool air gives a slow, even maturation in the warehouses. Tamdhu was built in 1897 by a consortium of blenders led by William Grant.

Bottled at a cask strength 66.8%, it is intense. Vanilla, honey and a soft apple come from the bourbon wood. Soft orchard fruit and raisin sit behind the spice. A dried fruit and ginger finish lingers long. This is a dried fruit rich Speyside malt.