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Tamdhu is one of the few Speyside whiskeys that is aged exclusively in sherry casks. The wine-soaked wood brings bright notes of fruits, spices and vanilla to the drink. In recent years, the brand has experienced a rebirth and is rapidly gaining popularity. The distillery is owned by Ian MacLeod Distillers, which ranks tenth in the ranking of Scotch whiskey producers.
Historical information
The plant in the village of Knockando was built in 1897 by a group of entrepreneurs led by William Grant, director of Highland Distillers. The author of the project was Charles Doig, the famous architect of industrial buildings, known for his innovative ideas. The press of that time wrote that the Tamdhu distillery is one of the most thoughtful and efficient enterprises in Scotland.
The plant worked until 1927, and then production had to be mothballed for as long as 20 years due to the general crisis that swept the industry. In 1949, Saladin malting equipment was installed at the newly launched plant. The company has been producing malt for its own needs for the longest time in Scotland.
In subsequent years, production increased momentum, and by the mid-70s, whiskey bottling volumes had tripled. During this period, four new stills were purchased to meet the growing demand. However, then the popularity of Scotch whiskey began to decline, and in 2010 the distillery stopped again.
The period of inactivity did not last long – at the end of 2011, the distillery was bought by Ian MacLeod Distillers. The new owners installed four new fermentation tanks, built new warehouses and opened a visitor center. The first bottling after the reconstruction took place in 2013, since then new releases with a long aging period have been regularly released. The company produces 2,5 million liters of whiskey per year.
Production features
An important role in the taste of Tamdhu is played by pure water from the spring of the same name, which is located near the enterprise. Barley is mixed with hot water in a container designed for 11,85 tons of raw materials. The age of the equipment is more than half a century. Fermentation takes place in nine Oregon pine fermentation tanks. The plant has six copper stills with short and wide necks. The distillery prefers Oloroso sherry casks, which are brought from Spain along the Speyside River.
Awards
The brand portfolio includes many awards at international competitions. Among the achievements of recent years are gold medals at competitions:
- International Spirits Challenge, London – 2017, 2018;
- Scotch Whisky Masters, Лондон – 2019;
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition, San Francisco – 2016, 2018, 2019;
- The Spirits Business, Лондон – 2019.
Interesting Facts
- The oldest 50 year old Tamdhu whiskey was bottled in 2017. The spirits have been aged in sherry casks since 1963. The party was limited – only 100 bottles went on sale.
- In 2018, the company participated in events dedicated to the celebration of Sherry Week, which takes place annually in Spain from 8 to 14 October. A whole series of films about the peculiarities of making sherry casks and whiskey aging was presented at the festival.
Types of whiskey Tamdu
Tamdhu 10 Year Old, 40%
Whiskey golden color with a ten-year exposure is available only to buyers in the UK and Russia. Vanilla, almond, oak and cinnamon are felt in a thick aroma. The taste reveals wine, fruity and woody notes, smoky shades become brighter at the finish.
Tamdhu 12 Year Old, 43%
Dark golden drink has a rich aroma, which mixes shades of fresh pastries, dried fruits, oranges and mint. The taste is silky, with hints of banana, biscuit and berry jam. The aftertaste is characterized by spicy, fruity and smoky tones.
Tamdhu 15 Year Old, 46%
Amber whiskey with aromas of apple pie, currants, oranges and fennel. The creamy taste features ripe apricots, raspberries, lemon tart and almonds. Finished with vanilla and sherry.
