This Tamdhu 12 Year Old replaced the Tamdhu 10 Years towards the end of 2018. With the replacement came an increase from 40% to 43% ABV – a good choice.
It has been matured in a combination of first-fill and refill Oloroso sherry casks, but it comes with a really light (natural) colour.
Tamdhu 12 yo
(43%, OB +/- 2019)
Nose: maybe not as full as we’d like. Orange peel, nuts and caramel, hints of liquorice and vanilla. A kind of rubbery sweetness and slightly musty oak. A minty edge.
Mouth: quite malty again, the sherry is playing second violin. Raisins and baked apple. Bananas flambéed. Orangettes, cinnamon and almonds. The oak pushes through after a while, with clove and a slight bitterness.
Finish: medium, on raisins and vanilla with oak spice.
A decent entry-level malt but not better than the 10 Years (at 40%). Slightly bland even – this needs more depth and a bit more first-fill sherry to win me over entirely. Available from Master of Malt or The Whisky Exchange among others.
Score: 82/100