Tamdhu 12 Year

A glass of Tamdhu 12 gifts you with aromas of orange mint chocolates (thanks to @waddelles), while at other times it reminds one of the expert review notes of "cherry candy cane". The palate has your red fruits and butterscotch in a playful dialectic that is typical all over Speyside. The finish is a synthesis of those two dancing components, with baking spices closing in on a fair amount of oak. There's not a whole lot of nuttiness going on - which I would've expected from a drier oloroso maturation. That'd have been nice as it would've complimented the flow from sweet to spice. But then again, I don't get any sulfur notes out of this either. And that's about all I could only ask for from a 12 yr scotch priced in the same range as the Macdaddy 12. At a low 86 proof, the mouthfeel is substantive - but don't expect this to blow your socks off. In short, I paid a Macallan-like price for a same age statement whisky, but got a more pleasant experience. (The novel bottle shape is up there in quality with the Mac as well.)

A classic sherried Speyside nose. Complex notes opening with citrus tree blossoms, crisp apple slices drizzled with honey, marmalade, oats, and Muscadine grapes are followed by some vanilla taffy and caramel chews, all balanced pristinely. Delightfully fruity and lively on the palate. Caramel blends with a mix of orchard fruits including pears, apples, Seville oranges, and Ruby grapefruit, plus a robust punch of pepper, candied cherries, as well as a dash of baking spices, besides a dusting of cocoa. The mouthfeel is silky, albeit a tad thin. No discernible legs in the glass, yet it does move rather unhurriedly and uniformly as it makes its attractive descent after a swirl. The finish is pleasant, mild but long. Slightly dry with delicate tannins revealing well chosen casks. Oak vanillin, Brazil nuts, cherry rope candy, a touch of coconut, raisins, plus a pinch of nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. Aroma: 10 Taste: 9 Body: 8 finish: 9

An elegant, Single Malt Scotch Whisky by the Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside, Scotland made using a mere wisp of peat smoke to prepare their barley; before it is aged for 12 years in the best combination of first fill & refill Sherry casks. It has an earthy birth with notes of forest floor, dried orange peel, red wine, pecan, raspberry jam doughnut, hints of vanilla & cinnamon; while a complex life adds notes of butter, caramel, crystallized ginger & fried banana with brown sugar; that led to a spicy death of medium length with notes of oak, black currant, smoke, sherry, pepper & mint chocolate fudge. June 6, / 20, 2025 / August 2025

Nose: immediately sherry notes but not really a sherry bomb, cinnamon, vanilla sweetness, for 2nd sip kind of banana notes. Macallan 12 Double Cask is more sherried, this one is more tart, oaky. Palate: changes a lot, starts sweet then spices become more dominant. The Macallan has more active spiciness from the beginning also more nutty. Finish: pungent, fresh spices, dark chocolate dryness. Shorter than the Macallan 12 Double Cask. With water: more sweet on nose and finish also. I prefer the Macallan from these two, more sherry less oak.

Nose: oak and citrus, very delicate, sherry. On the palate silky whiskey, sultanas, oak, curry, honey, sherry. Short and dry finish, honey and caramel. Very good, delicate. 4.25 __________________________________________ Naso quercia ed agrumi, molto delicato, sherry. Al palato whisky setoso, uva sultanina, quercia, curry, miele, sherry. Finale breve ed asciutto, miele e caramello. Molto Buono, delicato. 4,25

Nose: Orange, toasted oak, chocolate, menthol Palate: Iced pastry, jam, oak, sweet, spice, banana Finish: Medium long finish. Sweet, cinnamon, light smoke, caramel, milk chocolate This is a very sweet and lightly spicy dram. Chocolatey and milky, with loads of sweet fruit and spices. It's not a particularly adventurous dram, but tasty and quaffable. A session whisky.