Tamdhu Ambar

Tamdhu... my favorite Speyside single malt distillery. I've been collecting Tamdhu for the past couple of years and have built up a nice stash of their products. They recently introduced two exclusive expressions for travel retail: the Gran Reserva and this 14-year-old Ambar (meaning amber in Spanish). I'm usually wary of anything released as travel retail exclusive because my past experiences have been inconsistent... but this is Tamdhu! I have a bottle, but thanks to a generous pour from a friend, I don't need to open mine and can keep it stored with the rest of my collection. Bottled at 43% ABV, if it's like other Tamdhu expressions, it's natural color. This one is amber (living up to its name), but I suspect it's chill-filtered. Unlike others that are at least partially matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, this one is entirely in refill casks. That fact alone makes me hesitant, but let's see how it performs in the glencairn, shall we? The nose is light and delicate, not the sherry explosion I was hoping for. These refill casks are a significant departure from the first-fill casks I'm accustomed to from Tamdhu. Notes of dry grass, honey, and malty biscuits. Hints of lemon zest, light fruits like apricots, tangerines, and baked apples. Very subtle sherry notes, raisins, and extremely light oak. Whipped cream and perhaps some strawberries accompany it. Reminiscent of lemon bars with a graham cracker crust and a light dusting of cocoa powder. When freshly poured, the sherry notes are more noticeable, as is the chocolate. The palate is just as light as the nose, but with a slight alcoholic bite. It's a little bitter and a little sour. A hint of lemongrass. After a few sips, the sherry becomes more apparent, but it still pales in comparison to other Tamdhu expressions. Flavors of red and green grapes, raisins, and a couple of oak wood chips. Some baked apples, ginger, and clove. A light to medium-bodied mouthfeel that feels a bit thin and coats the tongue. The finish is medium-short with notes of lemon, oak, sherry, and apples. Well, I'm not completely enamored, but I'm not ready to dismiss it either. I believe the key is to drink it immediately after pouring. Oxidation seems to negatively impact the experience. It's quite clear to me that Tamdhu requires first-fill casks for at least part of its aging process. They contribute significantly more flavor and complexity. This 100% refill maturation simply doesn't measure up. I hope this is a limited production experiment and not an indication of future trends, considering the current demand for quality sherry casks. I'm unsure if I'm being overly critical or precisely as critical as necessary. Regardless, I'm still pleased to have had the opportunity to sample this and still possess a bottle for my collection. Cheers

Ah, Tamdhu. If Macallan represents the high-end sherry cask malts and Tomatin is the budget option, then Tamdhu falls somewhere in between, like JC Penney. This is a new travel retail exclusive named Ambar, meaning amber in Spanish, referencing the refill Spanish Oloroso sherry casks used. It's a respectable 14 years old. The alcohol content is slightly lower at 43%, and I suspect it's chill-filtered. This bottle costs over $80. I thank my whisky contact in NJ for this generous sample. The color is a rich, appealing gold with an oily appearance. It leaves thin, watery trails and large droplets after swirling in a Glencairn glass. The aroma is fairly light and malty, with notes of orchard fruit and toffee. Honey and vanilla are present along with hints of cocoa powder and ripe raspberries. However, all these elements are quite subtle, and waiting doesn't enhance them; the intensity is significantly reduced. The palate offers raisins and dark chocolate alongside the fruits from the nose. It's spicier and a bit warmer than expected for 43% ABV. A zesty citrus note appears late, adding some brightness. Despite its oily appearance, the mouthfeel is rather watery. The finish is light and thin, with notes of woody apples and a faint alcohol undertone. It's also quite short. Overall, this seems suited for newcomers to sherry whiskies. 'Thin' and 'weak' are the main descriptors that come to mind. It feels like a typical travel retail trap, using the Tamdhu name, travel retail exclusivity, and a slightly higher price to entice buyers, only to disappoint. Many less expensive sherried single malts and blends surpass it. I've enjoyed many Tamdhu expressions, but this one doesn't measure up. Stick to their first-fill cask and higher ABV offerings; leave this one for airport shoppers and devoted Tamdhu fans. 3 stars. Cheers.

A lovely day winds down on this Sunday. Outdoor chores are done, the smoker finished the ribs and chicken. Now, I'm just relaxing and enjoying this sample provided by a friend. This distillery is new to me, so let's begin. The color is a golden amber. A subtle nose with fresh diced apples, orange zest, and hints of cinnamon. Apricots mingle with dry oatmeal, vanilla, honey, and cocoa powder. The texture is rather thin. The flavors on the palate are faint yet sweet and fruity. Raisins and apples lead, followed by vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar. A youthful spiciness emerges alongside the sweetness. Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black pepper. The finish offers oak spice, strawberry jam, plums, and orange bitters, lasting a decent medium duration. Nothing remarkable here. A decent dram, but it lacks a defining characteristic. It's not something you'd crave or actively seek out. Better suited for casual drinking than sophisticated savoring. [84/100][Tasted: 5/26/19]

I felt the need for something stronger than my usual weekday kombucha or green tea while watching last night's SOTU (State of the Union, for those outside the US). How I miss the good old days when real politics wasn't more of a spectacle than Netflix's House of Cards. Well, much like our theatrical politics, this dram isn't entirely what it claims to be. It's labeled as 14 years in sherry, leading me to expect a dark, nutty, sweet, and heavy profile. Instead, it's quite well-balanced, offering a more subtle hazelnut and chocolate flavor, accompanied by a pleasant serving of dried red fruits. It's not overpowering like an Aberlour Abunadh, but certainly not light either (think Dalwhinnie). I believe this was a unique offering in the TRE collection; it was also quite affordable, perhaps around $50, though I don't recall precisely. I'm generally not a fan of TRE items, but occasionally, there's a standout.

Sweet vanilla, alcohol is not aggressive. Golden-amber color. Light structure, balanced overall.

Similar to a mediocre Macallan 12. Nothing special.