Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 003

Heading back to my favorite Speyside distillery. I absolutely love what they are putting out these days, as well as their commitment to quality. Everything they release is natural color, and most is non chill filtered. Everything released under the official label is also 100% Oloroso sherry matured (I do believe they sell casks to independent bottlers that may not be Oloroso or even any type of sherry at all). So here we have the third installment of the Batch Strength series, Batch 003. Bottled at batch strength (duh) of 58.3% ABV and as previously stated, non chill filtered and natural color of dark copper. Intense and overpowering on the nose if you go in too quickly after pouring. Something this strong needs time to breathe. Dark red fruits, mostly cherries, await you after letting it settle down. Oak and cinnamon, warm and inviting sherry. Strong vanilla, some orange peel, raspberries, blackberries, raisins and brown sugar. A little mint here and there along with dark chocolate and hazelnut. A little more time in the glass yields rich toffee, caramel and even a little maple syrup. More oak followed by some licorice root. Marzipan and almond butter wind things down. A splash of water reveals fruitcake and more fruits like dried apricots and nectarines. Spice cake, more vanilla, fennel/licorice root. Chocolate licorice (if you’ve never had it then you have no idea what I’m talking about, but it was a childhood favorite of mine). Intense heat on the palate, but it burns so good. Sweet and savory sherry, oak, cherries and raisins. Some spice in the way of cinnamon and clove that transitions into Brazil nuts. Fresh pumpernickel bread...that’s a first for me. Mulled wine with blackberries and mulberries. Again that almond and marzipan from the nose, which is there and gone quite quickly. Water reduces the oaky presence as well as the heat and brings out dried apricots, chocolate sauce and more of the chocolate licorice...delicious. A full bodied mouthfeel that is hot, oily and mouthwatering. The finish is medium long with strong sherried oak, berries/cherries and vanilla. A very good batch indeed. Better than batch 001, but I think batch 002 tops this one ever so slightly. Intense flavors, as are all the Batch Strength bottles, which really drives home just how well made this whisky is. I don’t regularly smoke cigars, and pair them with whisky even less often, but a snifter of this scotch paired with a cigar was quite magical. If you enjoy cigars I would highly recommend it. I gave 002 a solid 4.5, but as far as 003 goes I’m going with a 4.25. Cheers

It's time for another sample from Tamdhu's Batch Strength Series: this is Batch 003. This sample was provided by a friend, a devoted Tamdhu enthusiast, from Michigan. This has become an annual release that consistently remains non-chill filtered, with no color added, and, naturally, is cask strength. This specific release registers at 58.3% ABV. Each batch typically retails between $85-95 and is generally a fine example of a sherry-forward single malt. This batch is no different. Its appearance is a worn copper, heavily oiled, with no immediately forming legs. It leaves behind numerous very small droplets after a thorough swirl in the glass, as is common with most high ABV malts. The nose is predictably sherry-dominant, with abundant berry fruit like raspberries and blackberries. Sun-dried raisins, fresh grapes, and a subtle citrus note help to mask some of the harsher characteristics from the oak casks and young spirit. Bitter chocolate also emerges after some time or even a drop or two of cool water. The palate presents as maraschino cherry juice and sweet sherry wine. The heat is unavoidable and introduces cinnamon, pepper, and a sharp mid-palate sensation. You are drinking whisky here, and although the viscosity appears thicker, almost like cough syrup, it remains velvety. Dark chocolate undertones strongly conclude the flavor profile at the back, aiding in cooling things as it transitions to the finish. Speaking of which, it's medium to long and full-bodied. Faint oak and sherry wine combine with hints of orchard fruits and more chocolate, leaving a dessert-like profile lingering. It's another commendable vintage for the Batch Strength series. Overall, it's easily another 4+ star release and is certainly superior to Batch 001. I still consider Batch 002 my favorite to date, with this one being a close second. Batch 004 is now available, and I hope to sample it soon, anticipating it will live up to the legacy of its predecessors. 4.25 stars. Cheers.

The appearance suggests heavy use of refill sherry casks. It's a fairly light color for a sherry bomb, still a strong amber shade, 3-4 tones darker than golden. However, with scotch, judging color can be tricky; thankfully, this one confirms it's naturally colored! Nose - I've never encountered so much butterscotch on the nose before. It's an overwhelming blast of butterscotch with light milk chocolate underneath. I have to search deeply to find the dark fruits behind that absolute dessert bomb on the nose. At the end, I detect the faintest hint of bready oak. Adding a drop of water reveals more sherry notes, like figs, raisins, and dates. Nevertheless, it remains overwhelmingly dessert-like. There's also a distinct cherry note; I'd almost compare it to a Manhattan without the bourbon oak. Taste - An absolute, complete dessert scotch. I'm experiencing wave after wave of flavor. Just when I think the scotch is finished, another wave of flavor appears. I've detected at least 6 distinct waves on the first taste alone. Vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch, dark red fruits, possibly a cherry, baked cherry pie crust, maybe a touch of ginger. Water surprisingly brings out a bit more alcohol warmth and introduces some spices along with oak tannin. I have no idea how I've resisted finishing this bottle. It's absolutely incredible. Make no mistake, this isn't an aged scotch, but it's a nearly perfect example of a cask strength scotch. A 4-point rating is rare for me, but unless you dislike sherry or the $70-90 price range is prohibitive, this is a must-buy.

Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 004 was among my most preferred Scotches ever tasted. Now, let's discuss this one. I was quite pleased to locate a bottle of this Batch 003. This particular bottling is half a percent higher than the 004, at 58.3% ABV. Other than that, the recipe is identical. So, let's anticipate consistent quality. Nose: Poundcake, raisin, date, fig, plum, and grape. Cola. An intense sherry profile. Carrot cake and custard. Caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, and milk chocolate. Orange cream soda. Cocoa. Dried apricot. Orange peel and black pepper. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Quite warm. Palate: Gala apple and apricot. Plum, raisin, date, and fig. Caramel, vanilla, and cola. Grape and cranberry. A prominent cherry flavor. Orange cream soda. Milk chocolate and orange zest. Chestnut and a hint of poundcake. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Plum, date, fig, plum, and orange zest. Caramel, brown sugar, coffee, and chestnut. Orange cream soda. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. A lengthy finish—as expected. Magnificent. A truly powerful sherry-forward whisky. It's intensely warming but well-balanced, delivering all my favorite sherry-influenced Scotch characteristics with potent, undiluted intensity. Despite the warmth, all the flavors remain readily apparent. 5 out of 5 stars. It was worth the $86 I spent. I would gladly pay more for another. It's a rare find from the past, so recommending this particular batch isn't practical, but based on this and my experience with Batch 004, this series is a success. Therefore, I will confidently purchase any future batches.

For years, I've attempted to cultivate unusual vegetables each summer, like Kashmiri cucumbers, Chinese green radishes, and French boule d'or melons. Each year ended in failure due to insufficient NJ growing seasons or climates unlike those in Kashmir, southern France, or southern China. Last year, I focused on reliable NJ tomatoes, eggplants, and squash, and ended up with a bountiful harvest that tasted superior to store-bought produce. This Tamdhu is similar. It's a dependable sherry-matured whisky, offering great value and outperforming NAS Macallans promoted with fabricated histories and advertising campaigns (one even pulled by UK authorities). Why spend a fortune on subpar Macallans when solid, trustworthy choices like this exist? It presents classic sherry notes of dried fruits and hazelnuts, with oak presence indicating maturity. Hints of figs and marzipan are present. The long finish brings cinnamon and toasted nuts. A solid 4 stars. At around $80 and an average rating of 4.42, its Price/Rating ratio is about 5.5%, which is quite good compared to a 10% ratio for a $50 bottle with perfect 5 ratings. Thanks to a friend for this sample!

Exceptional. Truly remarkable. Among the finest single malts I have ever encountered. I am visiting my parents in suburban Denver, Colorado, and my father suggested we visit a local whisky bar that emulates a Scottish pub and boasts over 400 whiskies. I am almost embarrassed I was unaware of this place when I resided here previously. They offered numerous cask strength pours, independent bottlings, and rare selections. They even had Yamazaki 12 for $12 a serving! (More on that later...) This malt offers more than just a strong sherry character. It presents complex layers throughout. The aroma includes sherry, but also chocolate, leather, and dates. On the palate, I detect those same notes plus creme brûlée and baking spices. The finish is so extended, warming, and wonderful that one wishes it would continue indefinitely. It does not present as a cask strength spirit, and it continually invites further exploration. I added just two drops of water, which enhanced the dark fruit notes and provided slightly more body and openness on both the nose and palate. If you come across this expression, do not hesitate to purchase it. I have not tried the other batches, but this particular serving was exquisite. It ranks easily among the top five drams I have ever tried. Cheers!