Tamdhu Batch Strength
Official Cask Strength Release Batch 6 | 56.8% ABV
Score: 5/10
Average. In a good way.
TL;DR
Perhaps not quite the sherry bomb you’re looking for
Sorry. I Don’t Like…
Like all whisky folk, I’ve had a whisky ‘journey’. It wasn’t very long ago. After experiencing a flight of whiskies at a bar on the High Street in Edinburgh, I concluded that Classic Laddie was too fiery, smoky, and spicy for my taste.
However, I now realise that none of these impressions are true. It takes a journey and a willingness to try and sometimes retry to discover what you truly enjoy.
I’m not certain I’ve ever fell head over heels for a sherry cask whisky. I have partaken in many, and my collection has grown to include a number of them, but I must confess that most of these sherry cask bottles have been gradually relegated to the back of the shelves; left to gather dust, and rarely reached for.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that I had developed, or perhaps convinced myself that I had developed, an aversion to them altogether: too sweet, too wine-like or lacking the thunderous roar of flavour I’ve been seeking of late. Virgin oak or second-fill casks were my preferred realms, or bourbon barrels. But challenging that viewpoint, or having someone else challenge it for you, can be quite enlightening.
I recently attended a small(ish) independent whisky festival in Inverclyde - a Christmas gift from my son. Festivals, after all, should serve as splendid platforms to explore new horizons, possibly as long as they haven’t matured in a sherry cask. As one does at such gatherings, I conversed with the dram-bassadors, inquiring about the most flavour-packed offerings on (or under) their tables.
They typically ask about your preferences, and in my case, I imparted my wisdom, expressing my desire to avoid the sherry casks. At the Ian McLeod Distillers stall, the amiable rep offered me two Glengoynes to see which I preferred. Predictably, I chose the sherry cask one. I can attribute my choice to the samples from the other 25 stalls, but the truth is, I still opted for the type I had previously claimed to dislike. Or perhaps liked the least is a more accurate description.
One of the most entertaining aspects of being a dram-bassador must be presenting drammers with exquisite quality liquid that defies their stated preferences, just to witness their reactions. If it were my job, I would certainly indulge in such playful provocations.
Does this lead to a re-evaluation? Indeed, it does. Reflecting on the Glasgow Whisky Festival and its surrounding events, I must admit that my dram of the weekend was the Springbank Amontillado, which I was fortunate enough to sample twice, though regrettably not fortunate enough to acquire a bottle following its release.
Deciding to give sherry maturation another go, I reached towards the back (well the side actually) of my whisky shelves and decided to reacquaint myself with the Tamdhu Batch Strength 6.
Review
Tamdhu Batch Strength, Official Release, Batch 6, matured in ex-sherry casks, 56.8% ABV
£80 retail, picked up at auction for £55
All Tamdhu releases mature exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks, and I understand that a high proportion of the casks for this release were first fill sherry, though what constitutes a "high proportion" remains shrouded in mystery.
This is un-chill filtered, and they proudly tell us that its natural, rich colour, comes entirely from the sherry-cask maturation. The colour is lovely and deep, exactly what most marketing departments think whisky should look like.
Overall, it’s a decent whisky at the £55 I paid, but I would be less thrilled with it at the £80 retail price. I believe there are superior sherry matured options available. The whisky offers a medium level of complexity and is quite flavoursome. While it hasn’t convinced me that sherry cask maturation is the pinnacle of whisky production, it is a bottle far less likely to be relegated to the back of the shelf and forgotten.
Score: 5/10
Average. In a good way.
TL;DR
Perhaps not quite the sherry bomb you’re looking for
Nose
The nose is that of a sherry bomb, with Cointreau orange notes and chocolate. The more nosing you undertake the more it seems quite spirit forward, but it does have elements of dark fruit hiding behind.
Palate
There's an overwhelming presence of oak coming through on this whisky, and it leans a tad too youthful for my taste. While the sherry influence is there, it doesn't quite deliver the punch one would expect from the nose, which is a bit of a letdown. However, the delightful notes of orange Cointreau and chocolate make an appearance, accompanied by a slightly burnt aftertaste that perfectly complements the woodiness.
The taste dissipates from the palate swiftly but lingers in your throat, with a prolonged finish.
Overall, the spirit feels under-matured and somewhat rushed. The 56.8% ABV might seem hefty, but it isn't particularly noticeable, allowing the youthfulness of the spirit to take centre stage over the alcohol content and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
The Dregs
In my earlier whisky escapades, I found myself enjoying Tamdhu with greater regularity—I currently have three bottles in total. This particular expression doesn’t carry an age statement, which suggests that it might be on the younger side. I believe it could benefit from a few more years of mellowing to shine.
Oh, and how can you not adore a Tamdhu bottle? It evokes the elegance of a cut-glass candelabra—truly a classy vessel.
It’s not the kind of bottle you’ll brandish to impress a fellow dram enthusiast, but it remains a decent whisky that could stand to be a bit better. However, it has made me realize that I may have moved away from sherry casks too hastily. I need to keep them in my whisky repertoire and maintain some balance in the whisky force.
Score: 5/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. CC
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