Tamdhu 10yo from 1989 (discontinued)

My initial experience with this brand was a year ago, and I was impressed. Since then, I've sought out more expressions. I recently acquired a bottle from the late 1980s. At that time, the distillery shared ownership with another producer, was idled in 2010 without clear reasoning, possibly due to maintenance needs, and was later acquired by a new company. This 10-year-old bottle, likely from 1989 and bottled at 40% ABV, presents beautifully. The aroma is excellent, featuring dried oranges, dulce de leche, and toffee with chocolate notes. It has a powerfully oloroso sherry influence, with hints of amaretto, chocolate powder, cherries, a chocolate pudding snack, and abundant chocolate alongside burnt caramel. The taste is remarkable, offering red fruits, hazelnuts, oranges, and chocolate. Upon tasting, strawberries and licorice emerge. The finish is highly satisfying, echoing the aromas and flavors, with pepper, red fruits, chocolate, and some dryness. Spices feel refined, accompanied by bitter tobacco and more chocolate pudding. It's important to note that a 10-year age statement from the 80s didn't always signify immaturity; whiskies from the 70s and 80s often saw extended maturation. Older bottlings were less common, but existed. A 10-year-old was considered a premium product, and this expression lives up to that. It was well-rounded, beautiful, and very sweet. I'm giving it a high score because of the distinct chocolate pudding snack flavor, which I absolutely love.