Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 001

Tamdhu has earned a special place in my affections by consistently providing excellent sherry cask whisky for a considerable time. A companion of mine would likely be considered the president of their fan club if such a position existed. He is also the reason I receive multiple samples of practically everything they release, so I appreciate that. I tend to view Tamdhu as the economical sherry option compared to Macallan and even Glendronach. They typically offer similar quality at a more accessible price point. This is their inaugural NAS cask strength bottling, which has since expanded to four subsequent releases, Batch Strength 001. It is unfiltered, contains no added color, and is bottled at 58.8% ABV. It has an amber and copper hue and forms thin, oily legs and tiny droplets in my Glencairn glass when I swirl it before tasting. The aroma is typical Tamdhu sherry with a fresh oak presence in the background. With time, it releases raspberry purée and a nutty, malty note reminiscent of Macallan. The intensity limits further depth for me, likely because I am unwilling to add water to a 2oz sample. Other reviewers suggest that the aroma and palate become much more nuanced if diluted to a proper 43-46%. I simply prefer not to do that unless I have more whisky available, so perhaps next time. The palate initially resembles a peppery, sherry wine with cherries, vine-ripened berries, raisins, and light citrus. I believe I may have mistaken any distinct citrus characteristics for the higher proof and the strong oak influence from the casks used. Again, water would likely be beneficial here, but I can be a whisky snob and a bit stubborn, and I'm reluctant to add it to my Glencairn willingly. Surprisingly, however, it has a rich, full mouthfeel that I don't typically associate with cask strength whisky. So, that's a positive. The finish is long, spicy, and intense, with dominant flavors of cherry and spiced oak. The youthful character of the spirit is evident with a slight harshness that persists, but I'm adopting a tough-guy stance with my whisky and letting my eyes water a bit (or perhaps it was a Sarah Mclachlan animal rescue commercial playing nearby - I'll never say for sure, lol). Regardless, a single tear rolled down my cheek (in the style of a 1980s anti-littering, Native American public service announcement) before I wiped it away and followed the dram with a gulp of bottled water. Yes, I will recycle that water bottle, my friends – I'm not that uncaring. Overall, this is another outstanding cask strength offering from Tamdhu. Reflecting on my review of Batch 002, one observation stands out – I didn't detect any dark chocolate notes like I did with that batch, and for that reason, I must conclude that Batch 001 is not quite as good as its successor. Therefore, this one earns a 3.75-4 star rating, at most. It's good, but I believe the second release is superior. I'm about to try Batch 003 soon – perhaps they improve with each iteration. Now that would be something worth getting emotional about. Cheers, and thanks for reading this far.

I encountered this whisky a few months ago through a recommendation. The 10 year old Speysider completely amazed me, and I felt compelled to explore more. I promptly acquired the 10 year old and soon after decided to build a collection of all the Batch Strength releases. This feedback pertains to batch 001. Batch 001 is bottled at 58.8% ABV, is not chill filtered, and has a natural color resembling a rusty copper, characteristic of a heavily sherry-influenced whisky. To begin, I must mention that across several tasting sessions, I neglected to document the aromas and tastes separately with and without water. Therefore, please understand that the following observations were made somewhere between drinking it neat and with varying amounts of water. The aroma is dominated by strong sherry and spicy oak. It's powerful. Notes of red berries, perhaps blackberries, caramel apples, and cherry cordials are present. It's nutty, with hints of walnuts, pecans, and cashews. There was an unusual detergent-like note, but I wouldn't describe it as unpleasant. I also detected oranges, tobacco, fennel or anise, a touch of mint, and some candle wax. Hints of BBQ sauce emerge alongside brown sugar, vanilla, maple syrup, and salted caramels. Tangerines and chocolate are also noticeable. At times, it has a malty/yeasty quality, reminiscent of buttery biscuits. Raisins, dates, and something akin to chocolate chip cookie dough appear. The palate features robust spicy oak and intense sherry. I noticed pepper, cherries, and berries. Orange peel, tangerines, and tobacco are present. There's a subtle hint of almonds, some pleasant spiced fruitcake, and raisins. The mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied. It's initially hot and dry, then becomes mouthwatering. The finish is long, with notes of orange oil, sherry, cherries, oak, and spices. Initially, this whisky proved challenging to fully comprehend. The high alcohol content masked the aromas and made the palate too intense to discern subtle details. This is likely typical for most cask or batch strength whiskies. However, once I set aside my preconceptions and incorporated water, I was greatly rewarded with a satisfyingly rich sherry bomb. I found that adding about 15-20% water revealed much of the excellence found in the 10 year old while still retaining some of the batch strength intensity. I still favor the 10 year old, but this offering is quite impressive. I anticipate that future batches will be equally good. Straight from the bottle, I would rate it 3.75. With the ideal amount of water, it reaches 4.25. I'll compromise and assign it a solid 4. Cheers

This is comparable in quality to a solid A'bunadh. It's not an overwhelming sherry bomb, though. This has a strangely delightful richness, reminiscent of Macallan. On the nose, it's the most Macallan-like of non-Macallan whiskies. The bottle shape resembles a futuristic Macallan. What is Tamdhu attempting to do? Out-Macallan Macallan? I certainly don't mind the nose; it's decadent, if a little unoriginal. The palate, thankfully, takes an original turn. Sweet honeyed Wonderbread, Lindt chocolate infused with red chili and sea salt. This is the definition of a sultry whisky. The youth is apparent in the somewhat anticlimactic finish. From memory: better than Glenfarclas 105, better than Macallan Classic Cut, better than Glengoyne Cask Strength… better than recent Aberlour A'bunadhs; not quite at the level of the old A'bunadhs, but the ABV isn't as prominent either. You can drink this with or without water. I'm not sure. I need to save some of this delicious bottle for a blind tasting with all the NAS sherries I have, which includes unopened batches in the 30s of A'bunadh... Presumed score: 91/100.

I tasted this last evening while stuck at the Denver airport due to a four-hour flight delay. A friend provided the sample. I had planned to enjoy it in my hotel room while working, but I'm thankful to have it now for comfort during this absurdly extended wait. It strongly brought to mind the Macallan Classic Cut, likely in all aspects except cost. For a twenty to thirty dollar saving, this offers superior value. It features a classic sherry cask character with notes of hazelnuts and smooth vanilla. Profoundly robust and full of taste. My thanks to the friend for the sample; it proved extremely helpful given the situation.

What a fantastic evening drink. Opened it for the holidays and am already halfway through the bottle. Everyone enjoyed it immensely. The aroma is full of figs and toffee. Immediately, you get vanilla, brown sugar, and figs. The mouthfeel is very smooth and rich. A long, pleasing finish. It's like the holidays captured in a glass. I will absolutely search for the next batch.

The aroma was excellent, with sherry and dark fruits. The taste is one-dimensional and has a low alcohol content. The flavor is flatter than anticipated. Tastes like cheap bubble gum and processed sugar. The finish is uninspired, lacking body.