Tamdhu Single Cask 16 Years Old 2002

A distillery bottling of Tamdhu matured to 16 year old from 2002, drawn from cask 7389 and bottled at 59.3%. The outturn was 603 bottles. Tamdhu was founded in 1897 by the Spey at Knockando; it is famed for its sherry cask maturation. Water comes from the Tamdhu Spring, the distillery set on the banks of the Spey.

It was drawn off copper pot stills fed by the Tamdhu Spring, for the full, fruity make that suits sherry maturation. An Oloroso sherry cask wrapped the malt in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Mid age brings a deeper sherry and a riper dried fruit note. The cool Speyside climate gives a slow, even maturation over many years. 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. The River Spey runs past the distillery on its way to the Moray coast. Ian Macleod runs Tamdhu alongside Glengoyne and Rosebank.

Bottled at a cask strength 59.3%, it is intense. The Oloroso brings a rich, sherried fruitiness. The mouthfeel is rich, the fruit carried on a sherried body. Fig, raisin and oak see out a long finish. This is a sherry matured Speyside single malt.