Tamdhu 8 Years Old 2016 (Hart Brothers)

From Hart Brothers comes this Tamdhu, an 8 year old release from 2016 and bottled at 46%. Tamdhu, first built in 1897 by a blending consortium in Knockando, Speyside, is famed for its sherry cask whisky. Water comes from the Tamdhu Spring, the distillery set on the banks of the Spey.

The spirit was made in copper stills and filled into sherry seasoned oak, for a fragrant, fruity spirit with weight for the cask. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. At a youthful age the fruit is vivid and the sherry clear. Long ageing turns the orchard fruit towards fig, raisin and a warm spice. 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. The arrival of the Strathspey railway in the 1860s made the distillery possible. For decades its malt fed blends such as the Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.

At an approachable 46% it is rich and balanced. The Oloroso brings raisin, orchard fruit and a warm spice. A dried fruit and a nutty oak give it real depth. Fig, raisin and oak see out a long finish. This is a sherry matured Speyside single malt.