Tamdhu 9 Years Old 2015 Cask #0044 (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

A Tamdhu single malt, selected and bottled by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, a 9 year old release from 2015, drawn from cask 0044 and bottled at 50%. A release of 396 bottles. Tamdhu, first built in 1897 by a blending consortium in Knockando, 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.

The spirit was made in copper stills and filled into sherry seasoned oak, for a fragrant, fruity spirit with weight for the cask. An Oloroso sherry cask wrapped the malt in dried fruit and a nutty depth. At a youthful age the fruit is vivid and the sherry clear. First fill Oloroso casks drive the rich, dried fruit character Tamdhu is known for. Mothballed in 2010, the distillery was revived by Ian Macleod and relaunched in 2013. Sherry casks, both Spanish and American oak, define the modern Tamdhu. The name Tamdhu is Gaelic for little dark hill, and the architect was Charles Doig.

At a full 50% it is bold and fruity. The Marsala lends raisin and brown sugar to the malt. It is full and deep, the sherried spirit shining through. The close is warm, dried fruit over soft oak. This is a dried fruit rich Speyside malt.