Tamdhu 2016 Duich Copper & Oak Series III 9 yo

 

 

 

60,3°

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Fib Whisky Limited 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The company was founded in 2017 under the name Kilrymont Distilling, before being renamed Fib Whisky Ltd in 2021. It is run by two brothers, Iain and Andrew Mundy, who are always keen to experiment with new finishing techniques. But here, nothing too daring, a simple Refill Bourbon Barrel does the job, yielding just 54 bottles, sold exclusively in the UK. The other half of the cask was used for another bottling, finished in a Madeira Barrique this time. It is rare to find a Tamdhu without Sherry, which is why this one is so interesting. Like all the company’s labels, it was designed by Orla Stevens. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sweet fruit, intense wax, citrus and white peach, lemon tart, pineapple cake, vanilla cream, scrambled eggs. Lovely freshness, spring dew, shards of limestone, steamed rice. On the palate, fresh almonds, juicy pears, lychee, coconut, argan oil, pronounced spices, cloves, black pepper. A long and powerful finish that develops slowly, damp earth, oak bark, chocolate, light coffee, very subtle bitterness, drops of honey, varnished wood, artichoke heart, diced green apple.

 

In Short, 

I really like the nose, it’s reminiscent of a Clynelish but without the peat, with plenty of fruit, like a Glenburgie. The finish is very powerful but quite well integrated. The price was very reasonable, making it a real bargain, but unfortunately, it’s nearly completely sold out now. I haven’t tasted the sister cask finished in Madeira, but frankly, I think they should have bottled the whole cask without any finishing.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Lola Bates - Girl's Girl

Tamdhu-Glenlivet 2007 Cadenhead Original Collection 15 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside 

Refill Bourbon Barrels, Oloroso Sherry Casks and Refill Bourbon Finish

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Tamdhu is renowned for its fruity and pulpy character, but here the ageing is undoubtedly the most intriguing. This one is triple matured, first in Refill Bourbon Barrels, then 20 months in Oloroso Sherry Casks, and finally 11 months again in Refill Bourbon Barrels. Why this versatility? What will it bring to the distillate?

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Sherry is very intense, almost too much so, a liqueur of red fruits, blueberries, raspberries, oregano, Aosta ham, spongy wood, blood oranges, clementines, candied cherries. In the background, earthy touches, exotic spices, blood sauce. Saffron, grated nutmeg, cinnamon. On the palate, it's syrupy, heady, melted dark chocolate, stretto coffee, blackberry jam, redcurrants, tomato coulis. The spices are a little less present, black pepper, cola. The finish is fairly long, very opulent, black earth, charcoal, burnt caramel. A hint of bitterness and vegetal notes at the end.

 

In Short, 

I can understand why the liquid was put back into a Refill Bourbon Barrel, the Sherry was a little too invasive, and the trend had to be reversed, or at least an attempt made. The result is a whisky saturated with sherry, a little excessive, but which may appeal precisely for that reason. The price seems to me excessive for what it is.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek - Cool Hand

Tamdhu 1973 Gordon & MacPhail Rare Old 29 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside

Sherry Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2002

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

There's very little information about this bottle, I don't even know if it's a Single Cask or not. In any case, it's a piece of history, distilled in 1973 and bottled 29 years later. It seems to have been forgotten for a decade or two, before a bottle turned up at auction. It was aged in Sherry casks, but I don't have any further details. It seems that the bottling was done in collaboration with La Maison du Whisky.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Magnificent sherry nose, cascade of red fruit coulis, candied blackcurrant, blackberry cake, raspberry jelly, stuffed figs, almond paste, marzipan, my grandmother's fruit cake, chocolate mousse, tomato soup. On the palate, velvety mushrooms, still a lot of red fruit, with shortbread pastry, Britanny biscuits, braised vanilla, cashew nuts, beeswax, spices that are lively but rare. Very long finish, red fruit purée, earth and chocolate, cloves, light floral notes, roses and tulips. Cachous.

 

In Short, 

An exceptional product, the likes of which are rare. Sherry at the top of its game, it's hard to beat that. It's a shame that it's reduced to 46°, otherwise it would make a totally sublime bottling. Well, it's still sublime anyway. Unfortunately, it's very expensive, although not as much as you might imagine. But above all, it's totally impossible to find.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne n°20

Tamdhu Batch Strength Sherry Oak Casks Batch n°006

 

 

 

56,8° 

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside

1st Fill and Refill Oloroso Sherry Seasoned Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

After batch n°5 comes batch n°6, which is the natural order of things, since Tamdhu concocts something new each year in this range, which continues to win awards in competitions. This new bottling is a new milestone, without changing the recipe. Oloroso casks, cask strength, no chill filtration or added colouring. However, the number of bottles produced is not specified.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is evanescent, almost ethereal, but still solid on its legs. Creamy, syrupy, with citrus fruit and a hint of iodine. Full-bodied, with tawny leather, dried fruits, prunes, apricots and figs. Some walnuts and hazelnuts. Pleasant, well-crafted, fairly smooth palate. Caramel, blood orange, chocolate pear. Spices, paprika, nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin. Green tea. Creamy olives. Very stinging finish, but not very long. Nice though, with heather, bark and ferns. Cardamom, star anise. Candied lemon.

In Short, 

It's surprising how different it is from the previous batch. I thought Batch 5 was very fruity, whereas this one is much more woody and lemony. Perhaps more second-fill casks? I didn't like this batch as much, even though I found it interesting. It's still of a high standard and may be worth buying.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Tears for Fears - Shout

Tamdhu Batch Strength Sherry Oak Casks Batch n°005

 

 

 

59,8°

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside

Oloroso Sherry Casks from the Bodegas of Jerez

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2015, the first Tamdhu Batch Strength was released, aged exclusively in Sherry casks. Batch 2 followed in early 2017, and every year since we've had the pleasure of discovering a new batch.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is of course intense, very fruity. A bit of iodine, though. Always this fruit basket, with pineapple, coconut, banana, mango, and various red fruits, raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries. Pears, apples, apricots, all sprinkled with almonds. There are also a few rocky fragrances. On the palate, the fruits are still there, with spices, but also toasted vanilla, chestnuts, cashew nuts. Ripe plums. A lovely, very powerful finish of orchard fruits, greengages, mirabelles. A whirlwind of fruits.

 

In Short, 

Yes, it's quite beautiful in fact, quite impressive. It's rare to have something so fruity. But then again, the price is too high to be worth buying in my humble opinion.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Tamdhu 15 yo Sherry Oak Casks 2019

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside

1st Fill European and American Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Undhillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The year following the release of the 12 Year Old, the distillery is offering this 15 Year Old in a limited edition of 24,000 bottles. It was matured in exactly the same way as the 12 Year Old, exclusively in Sherry casks. A new Batch was launched the following year, and then another the year after that.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

From the very first nose, a lovely basket of fruit, starting with tropical fruits, pineapple, papaya, coconut, then red fruits, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and finally some orchard fruits, pears, juicy apples, white grapes. Almonds, cashew nuts and a pinch of salt at the end. Very pleasant on the palate, with hints of fermented fruits, once again that basket of fruits, but this time they've been crushed and mixed together, and left for a few hours in the sun. A touch of calva. The finish is not very long, but quite strong anyway, earthy and fruity. Heather.

 

In Short, 

I really liked it. The fruit is intense and varied, the alcohol level is adequate and the whole thing is rather well done without being particularly aggressive. Unfortunately, I found the price really excessive.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Murray Head - Say It Ain't So, Joe

Tamdhu 12 yo Sherry Oak Casks

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside

1st Fill European and American Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2018, this new Tamdhu burst onto the market, replacing the 10-year-old discontinued by the distillery. Like all Tamdhu bottlings, it is matured entirely and exclusively in Jerez sherry casks.

Let's Taste It : 

Vanilla, honey and citrus fruits on the first nose. Beautiful fullness. Then cinnamon, almonds, mint and aniseed. Like a tangy sweet. Candied mandarins, apricots, crème brûlée, some red fruits but light, rather gooseberry. On the palate, gingerbread. The Sherry is more present, but not excessive, remaining balanced. Paprika, saffron, cardamom. The finish is correct, on wood and charcoal, with a residue of wine lees, blackcurrant and cranberry.

In Short, 

A successful expression of a quality everyday dram. Curiously, this bottle is rather difficult to find, and its price is not always attractive, but it's worth a try if you're an enthusiast.

Score : 84

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Paul Weller - You Do Something to Me