Murray McDavid Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Murray McDavid ‘Mission Gold’ Tamdhu 1987 (31 year old) 50.4%

Finished in ex-Koval 100ltr cask

Dist: 1987 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Feb 2019

The nose initially displays some pleasant, mature, dusty American oak with mature barley, apricot and citrus, but then the Koval cask stamps all over it with toasted almond and sweet corny Bourbon notes.

The palate opens with the obvious charred Koval cask character, sweet corn, butterscotch and almonds. Hints of barley and citrus appear but like the nose the finishing cask is dominant. Bitter coffee notes on the middle with a touch of salt and spice. Long and oaky with lingering herbal, rye-like notes and toasted oak. In conclusion: It obviously had very little oak character to begin with, hence the aggressive finishing.

Lady of the Glen Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Lady of the Glen Tamdhu 2007 (11 year old) 61.6%

Bourbon Hogshead 6833/ Dist: 2007 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Oct 2019

The nose is closed, alcoholic and industrial. Hints of hard barley, gooseberry, lime, green apple, rose petal marc and a faint ascetic note. Diluted its less ascetic but more industrial.

Raw, alcoholic, industrial and hard going on the palate. Hints of barley, dried fruit and caramel. Water brings out the oils, green apple, gooseberry and malt. The finish is masked and hot with lingering industrial notes. Diluted it’s a little lighter and some granulated sugar notes sweeten a little. In conclusion: Well, you can’t argue that it displays any distillery character!

Edition Spirits Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Edition Spirits ‘The First Edition’ Tamdhu 1998 (18 year old) 52.2%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: EDI0192/ HL12826

Dist: Aug 1998 Btl: 2016/ Tasted: Nov 2016

The nose is a little muted and quite oily with pepper, barley and a touch of oat cakes. With time a subtle herbal note appears.

The palate is fresher and more citric with barley, apricot and grippy, tannic oak. It fills out a bit on the middle but it still remains rather tight and citric. Medium length with greengage, grass and returning herbal notes.

Edition Spirits ‘The First Edition’ Tamdhu 1999 (18 year old) 50.4%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: EDI0341/ HL14483

Dist: Apr 1999 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Mar 2018

Initially the nose is quite tight with hints of fragrant barley, malt, apricot and dark honey. It opens a little to show some dusty, almost gristy barley and a tart lime infused fruitiness.

The palate is also a bit tight with barley, malt and milky oak. Hints of apricot, grass and orange appear, but the citrus is quite sharp, with an almost under-ripe tangerine/ orange character. Masked finish with a slightly salty after-taste.

A drop of water emphasises the creamy oak and the orange notes are wonderfully juicy and fragrant now. Light sweet spice note appears as well. On the palate the citrus has thrown off its sharpness and has become very juicy. Maybe it’s a little simpler now, but the finish is good with some pleasant spice notes.

Edition Spirits ‘The First Edition’ Tamdhu 1998 (20 year old) 55.8%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: EDI0403/ HL15369

Dist: Mar 1998 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Sept 2018

The nose is initially quite oily with the ‘Bourbony’ vanillins and coconut notes up first, followed by lime, grass and fragrant barley. It’s a lovely nose and hopefully a drop of water will tame the oak a little.

The palate is a little closed, but showing some honey, barley, apricot, grass and gritty oak tannins. Masked finish.

Water really brings out the lime citrus notes along with a touch of granulated sugar. The oak, as expected is pushed back and adds just a subtle creamy vanilla note now. The palate is again quite citric with lime and grapefruit, but it’s also incredibly dense and barley’d as well. Wonderfully vibrant with a long, juicy, citric finish with a touch of balancing sugar and spice.

Carn Mor Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Tamdhu 1997 (20 year old) 54.6%

Bourbon Hogshead 307089/ Dist: May 1997 Btl: Oct 2017/ Tasted: Dec 2017

Aromas of white fruit, ginger root and white liquorice. Lightly peppered with waxy apple and barley. Subtle, lightly creamy oak comes through along with some malt laden oils but damn, that’s peppery. Late straw and husky barley.

The palate is full and barley’d with mature honey and surprise…. pepper! Hints of white liquorice, fennel, anise, menthol, eucalyptus, dark chocolate and some slightly bitter tannins. Very entertaining and intense with a subtle ‘Bourbony’ oak finish and lingering pepper.

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Tamdhu 1997 (20 year old) 57.3%

Bourbon Hogshead 576073/ Dist: 1997 Btl: Aug 2018/ Tasted: Aug 2018

The nose is quite tight, crisp, granity and herbal. Hints of barley, apricot, honey and creamy oak appear with time.

The palate is quite tight as well with apricot, apple, cinnamon, ginger, barley and oak. Very citric and mineral on the middle, which is obviously amplified by the alcohol. Long and creamy with the oak showing a subtle maturity and a buttery side.

A drop of water opens up the nose and it now shows some lovely sugar coated orange, tangerine and kiwi skin. Beautifully succulent and juicy with barley, cinnamon sticks, pepper and subtler, more toffee’d oak. On the palate the citrus is toned down a bit and the oak is more toffee’d and less buttery. Hints of herbal pepper and menthol on the middle and a long, peppery and subtle lemony/ mineral finish.

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Tamdhu 2008 (7 year old) 46%

Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: 2008 Btl: 2015/ Tasted: Mar 2015

A lovely, fresh and grassy nose with sweet barley, citrus and sweet pollen dust. Bright and breezy witjh hints of honey, straw and dried grape.

The palate is quite full and barley’d with a little more toffee’d oak showing. A crisp, mineral; and citrus note balances and hints of grass and thick honey follow. Very mouth-filling and long with lingering barley, white fruit and citrus. Finally exiting with a brief mocha and stony note. A delightfully light Spey with plenty of depth.

Hunter Laing Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Tamdhu 1998 (16 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2441/ HL10923

Dist: Mar 1998 Btl: Oct 2014/ Tasted: Nov 2014

The nose opens with chunky, oily bourbon notes along with hints of coffee and toffee. A touch of perfumed white fruit and grass can be detected but the oak dominates.

The palate is dense and oily with toffee’d oak and yet more toffee! A touch of grass comes through on the middle but the oak continues in a rather buttery fashion. Some pleasant, cleansing citrus appears in the finish but like the nose the oak is the dominating theme.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Tamdhu 1999 (18 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2752/ HL14731

Dist: Apr 1999 Btl: Feb 2018/ Tasted: Mar 2018

A nfragrant and aromatic nose of manuka honey, malt and milky coffee. Hints of buttered almonds, toffee and nettles follow, along with thyme and heather. It shows some good maturity and late hints of honeydew melon and wood spice.

The palate is quite buttery initially with plenty of toffee too. Hints of barley, apricot and citrus pushes through but the oak holds. Hints of coffee and almond appear on the middle but the finish is fresher and almost tartly, mouth-wateringly citric with a subtle pulped white fruit, white liquorice and biitering oak after-taste.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Tamdhu 1991 (23 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2390/ HL10585

Dist: May 1991 Btl: Jun 2014/ Tasted: July 2014

The aromas seem to suggest that this is a little long in the tooth as some wet cardboard notes have crept in along with some murky honey. There are hints of sweet barley, grass and thyme, but it’s all a bit too old.

The palate is slightly fresher and cleaner with the caramel oak dominating, A touch of barley, apricot and honey comes through but the oak is blanketing. Good finish as the citrus cuts through the oak and finishes with a touch of coffee and dry grass.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Tamdhu 1988 (27 year old) 45.9%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2525/ HL12004

Dist: Jun 1988 Btl: Oct 2015/ Tasted: Nov 2015

Wonderfully mature and dusty on the nose with sharp lemon bonbon’s, barley, violet and fragrant oak. Superb depth with hints of vibrant gooseberry, lime and apricot. With time the oak develops a creamy vanilla character.

Soft and full on the palate with fleshy apricot, barley, dusty oak and hints of citrus. Incredibly juicy with the citrus notes adding a lovely freshness. Long and beautifully spiced – sweet ginger and cinnamon. Quite a dusty oak after-taste. Mature, juicy and fresh!

---

Hunter Laing Distillers Art Tamdhu 1998 (18 year old) 48%

Bourbon/ Code: ART0080/ Dist: Aug 1998 Btl: Sept 2016?/ Tasted: Oct 2016

A little edgy on the nose but pleasantly barley’d with white fruit, citrus and vanilla.

The palate is a bit dull, due to be flattened by the natural caramel. Hints of barley and citrus appear on the middle and the finish is somewhat austere and citric.

---

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Tamdhu 2005 (8 year old) 46%

Bourbon/ Code: HEP0031/ Dist: Jul 2005 Btl: June 2014/ Tasted: July 2014

A crisp, fresh and grassy nose with hints of fennel, dill, white liquorice and lightly gristy barley. Quite fresh and appealing.

The palate is soft, showing a little more honey an oak. Quite toffee’d with hints of white fruit and grass. It develops a granulated sugar note on the middle and has a good barley and white liquorice finish. Pleasant, sweet spice after-taste.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Tamdhu 2006 (9 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: HEP0155/ Dist: Nov 2006 Btl: Feb 2016/ Tasted: Mar 2016

Crisp, fresh aromas of green fruit, citrus along with a touch of hard barley and oak.

The palate opens with the toffee’d oak and hints of citrus and green fruit. Again slightly industrial. Short and a little hot and citric.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Tamdhu 2007 (9 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: HEP0258/ Dist: Aug 2007 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Mar 2017

A pleasantly full and evolved nose with honey coated apricot, barley, grass and vanilla oak, which becomes fairly toffee’d with time.

Straightforward and toffee’d on the palate with subtle barley and citrus. Soft, sweet and oaky with lingering toffee.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Tamdhu 2007 (10 year old) 46%

Sherry Butt/ Code: HEP0315/ Dist: Aug 2007 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Apr 2018

The nose is citric and mineral, with a tangy sharpness. Hints of lemon curd, cereal, grass and barley appear. Very fresh and invigorating, but not much in the way of sherry cask notes.

The palate displays more toffee, but still has a good balancing citric character. Relatively straightforward with barley, lemon, apricot and grass. Dry, citric and mineral finish. Like the nose I’m not getting any sherry character.

Mackillop’s Choice Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Mackillop’s Choice Tamdhu 1989 (25 year old?) 45.5%

Bourbon Cask 4104/ Tasted: May 2014

The nose is rather citric and very fresh for its age. Good complexity with hints of honey, grass, minerals, light oak and barley. All very harmonious.

The palate is like the nose, fresh and citric with some creamy American oak balancing. The middle becomes quite fleshy with hints of sweet-ish barley, herbs and grass. The citrus and mineral notes return on the finish to give it quite an austere ending. However it’s a lovely expression.

Mackillop’s Choice Tamdhu 1989 (28 year old) 48.1%

Bourbon Cask 4126/ Dist: May 1989 Btl: Sept 2017/ Tasted: Nov 2017

A lovely fragrant nose of barley, orange blossom honey, sawdusty oak and sweet vanilla. Gorgeously mature and displaying an enticing sub-tropical character. Late hints of citrus and minerals.

The palate is exceptionally deep and gorgeously honeyed with barley, toffee, citrus and milky oak. Hints of minerals, white fruit and apricot appear on the middle and the finish is long, citric and minerally with sweet barley and oak balancing.

Douglas McGibbon Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Tamdhu 2005 (8 year old) 46%

Bourbon/ Code: PRV1087/ Dist: July 2005 Btl: Apr 2014/ Tasted: May 2014

An exuberantly honeyed nose with gristy barley, granulated sugar, pineapple, apple, grass and oak.

The palate opens with the toffee’d oak, followed by apple, apricot and a touch of milk chocolate coated digestive biscuit. Lightly grassy on the middle with a lovely, light barley and honey finish. Definitely a summer dram!

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Tamdhu 2000(?) (12 year old) 46%

Bourbon/ Code: PRV1026/ Dist: 2000(?) Btl: July 2013/ Tasted: Aug 2013

Oily, off-the-still cereal aromas with a light citrus and grassy note plus hints of malt, treacle and liquorice.

The palate has quite a prominent degree of oak, which didn’t appear on the nose. Caramel, vanilla and toffee dominate, in fact it becomes very toffee’d. Eventually a little grass and citrus appears in the finish.

Malts of Scotland Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Malts of Scotland Tamdhu 1990 (20 year old) 49.8%

Sherry cask 8119/ Dist: Apr 1990 Btl: Mar 2011/ Tasted: July 2011

Slightly sulphurous (which does blow off relatively quickly) expansive Oloroso nose with some dried fruit, nuts, earth and liquorice. With time some violet notes appear. 

The palate is soft and sweet Oloroso fruit, coffee, toffee. Displaying a touch of maturity.Ok length. Quite sweet and nutty with a gentle spice finish.  

Conclusion: A distinctly average sherry cask

Douglas McGibbon Tamdhu Tasting Notes

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Tamdhu 2005 (8 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV1087/ DMG10293

Dist: July 2005 Btl: Apr 2014/ Tasted: May 2014

An exuberantly honeyed nose with gristy barley, granulated sugar, pineapple, apple, grass and oak.

The palate opens with the toffee’d oak, followed by apple, apricot and a touch of milk chocolate coated digestive biscuit. Lightly grassy on the middle with a lovely, light barley and honey finish. Definitely a summer dram!

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Tamdhu 2006 (8 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV1131/ DMG10570

Dist: Nov 2006 Btl: Oct 2014/ Tasted: Jan 2015

The nose is lightly honeyed if a little hard and herbal in character. Lightly soapy with time along with a touch of lightly burnt caramel.

The palate opens with the burnt caramel and toffee. The oak has flattened the palate somewhat with just a touch of barley discernable. Good spicy finish though.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Tamdhu 1998 (12 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV0739/ DMG7657

Dist Dev 1998 Btl: Jul 2011/ Tasted: Oct 2011

A polite nose of brittle honey with some cherry fruit and a touch of perfumed white flowers. The oak adds some caramel to round it off.

The palate is soft, full and rounded. Quite honeyed with barley, spice, soft fruit, a touch of smoke and light coffee. Good length with a slightly grassy finish. All very pleasant and unpretentious.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Tamdhu 2000 (12 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV1026/ DMG9862

Dist: Autumn 2000 Btl: July 2013/ Tasted: Aug 2013

Oily, off-the-still cereal aromas with a light citrus and grassy note plus hints of malt, treacle and liquorice.

The palate has quite a prominent degree of oak, which didn’t appear on the nose. Caramel, vanilla and toffee dominate, in fact it becomes very toffee’d. Eventually a little grass and citrus appears in the finish.

House of Macduff Tamdhu Tasting Notes

House of Macduff ‘Golden Cask’ Tamdhu 1994 (11 year old) 61.3%

Bourbon Cask 241/ Dist: 1994 Btl: 2005/ Tasted: Mar 2007

Young and intensely oily on the nose. Youthful, perfumed fruit with a cereal background. It displays what can only be described as ‘terroir’ – essence of earth and granity hard malt! It’s young, delicate and maybe a bit evanescent but utterly charming.

On the palate it is light, estery and oily, again youthful with cereal and light spices. Good length with a whistle clean finish. A touch of water smoothes and softens brining out the orange fruit but not detracting from its granity hardness.

House of Macduff ‘Golden Cask’ Tamdhu 1991 (17 year old) 55%

Bourbon Cask 123/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2008/ Tasted: Jan 2008

Scintillating aromas of rich orange fruit and sticky toffee. Big, complex, full and luscious with a touch of smoke and apricot fruit.

Smooth and sliky on the palate with sticky toffee, apple, orange fruit and quiet a smoky middle. This is a big fruity monster, immensely so with loads of intense spices along with a touch of earth and garden flowers.

A drop of water mellows the monster, yet doesn’t detract from its complexity.