Tamdhu 8 Years Old The MacPhail’s (G&M)

A Tamdhu single malt, selected and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, an 8 year old release and bottled at 40%. Tamdhu, built in 1897 on the banks of the Spey in Speyside, is famed for its sherry cask whisky. Mothballed in 2010, the distillery was revived by Ian Macleod, who relaunched the single malt in 2013.

Distilled in copper onion stills on Tamdhu Spring water, for a rich Speyside spirit built to take sherry wood. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. Still young, the malt is fruity and sherried with a soft spice. A patient maturation suits the rich, sherried Tamdhu character. 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. Mothballed in 2010, the distillery was revived by Ian Macleod and relaunched in 2013.

At an easy 40% it is gentle. Vanilla, honey and a soft apple come from the bourbon wood. The texture is rich and rounded, the fruit lifted by sherry. Fig, raisin and oak see out a long finish. This is a dried fruit rich Speyside malt.