Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 004

Nose (neat): A powerful and warming aroma of oak, oloroso sherry, blackstrap molasses, and dark chocolate, with underlying exotic spice notes like curry, freshly ground cardamom, coriander, cumin, and cinnamon. The high alcohol content creates a tight, prickly nose that is initially hard to decipher, but it softens over time to reveal hints of vanilla and citrus. Nose (diluted): Much smoother with a touch of water, showing orange juice, red berries, dried apricots, and a hint of anise. The oak notes re-emerge after a while. [The aroma from the empty glass is maple syrup toffee]. Palate (neat): Intensely spicy with effervescent white pepper and sharp dark fruit notes. As the alcohol subsides, it becomes rounder and more fruit-forward, reminiscent of a generous portion of mixed dried fruits soaked in oloroso sherry. The palate develops towards bitter marmalade sprinkled with coffee crystals, maintaining a well-balanced texture without becoming overly sweet. Palate (diluted): Delicious semi-sweet sherried fruits, roasted nuts, and marzipan, with tropical fruits, gingerbread, and warm soft spices. The texture becomes creamier, supported by the firm grip of excellent oak casks. It gains more sweetness as it evolves. Expertly crafted. Finish (neat): Medium to long, warming, and juicy with milder spice and sherry notes. A slightly flinty sharpness lingers in the aftertaste, along with a dark cacao flavor that eventually gives way to juicy dark fruit. Finish (diluted): The primary changes are the disappearance of the flinty note and the emergence of juicy fruit flavors, accompanied by a sweeter aftertaste. This is the first Tamdhu I've genuinely enjoyed. Previous expressions seemed uninspired, timid, unbalanced, and lacking presence, but this one is different. It's a substantial, dry sherry-forward dram, yet it possesses elegance. A dash of water easily tames it, revealing a more sensitive and subtle character. It offers a complex and engaging progression and responds very well to dilution. It is remarkably clean, and the cask selection was impeccable; it could easily be mistaken for a single cask bottling. The nose is formidable, and even when tasted neat, the palate is not overly hot, though certainly intense. However, I preferred it with about half a teaspoon of water, which retained its assertive character while allowing a host of pleasant sweeter and more delicate notes to emerge. This is a delightful whisky that rewards lengthy and thoughtful tasting. Sampled from a purchased 30ml portion. At the asking price, it's excellent value, and I have since purchased a full bottle. "Very Good": 86/100 (4 stars)

Two sherry vats in two evenings. Attempting to finish a couple more drams before my kid arrives and extended thoughtful sips will be set aside for a bit (maybe?!). Nose: Heavy, dark, and rather moody. Dark molasses or bonfire sweetness is mixed with robust spices like cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and perhaps a bit of brighter anise? That spice is set on dark woody vanillin, astringent oak, and the hint of a dark fruit collection. This is a smoldering and richly inviting nose but I expect its also a warning for whats about to be revealed… Palate: Wow, that's a Chinese New Year Firework. An almost sherbet-like pepper burst kicks things off with a blaze. Subsequent sips are less harsh and more ginger-like with succulent sultanas, raisins, plums, and figgy depths to uncover. Orange peel, a hint of mocha, and a clean crisp texture that has just the right blend of oak tannin and softening toffee notes to keep everything steady and well-balanced throughout. My word though, that peppery opening, wow. Finish: Medium. Dark fruit chocolate, a hint of espresso bitterness, and some juicier cooked fruits. Perhaps something nutty, maybe almond. The pepper and the moody nose suggested that this could take a splash of water. And that it can, the peppery storm is calmed and there are new elements to be found. A gentler nose with brighter almost tropical zest and a brighter aspect to the oak. The palate finds apricot and grilled pineapple, fresh oranges and fresh wood shavings, maybe even demerara sugar. The finish changes little but there is a bit of a coppery presence maybe. Wow, that was unforeseen. That really took me deep. This is a heavy weight spirit for sure, that batch strength is not messing around. But for the depths of the initial nose and the ferocity of the initial taste, this ended up feeling polished and fulfilling. Probably not something I would choose to relax with, but definitely one for blasting Verdi - Requiem, Dies irea to and contemplating world domination. Thank you to a friend for the depths of your whisky cabinet are a treasure to us all (but mostly me it seems, thanks Sir!). Whisky taste #273 [Pictured here with a piece of the Kambalda Komatiite from Mount Hunt in Western Australia. Komatiite is a highly magnesium-rich rock formed during near complete melting of the mantle and subsequent eruption as a volcanic lava. This rock could only form until around 2.5 billion years ago when the temperature of the mantle was 100-250 C hotter. These rocks are ubiquitous for their green color and spinifex textures of large needle like dendrite plates of olivine and pyroxene]

Tamdhu is often recognized as the overlooked gem of sherried Scotch. Therefore, I decided to explore the distillery, beginning with the Batch Strength. As a fan of cask strength releases, I opted for the undiluted product to understand Tamdhu's essence. Nose: Even as I began writing, the aroma was leaping from the glass – a veritable fruit salad of apple, pear, apricot, pineapple, orange, lemon, lime, plum, and kiwi. Sweet notes of vanilla, butterscotch, toasted almond, marshmallow, and toffee are present, alongside raisin, date, and fig, indicating sherry aging. Milk chocolate and frosting notes are also detected, with a hint of nutmeg and robust oak. It's very sweet with a slight tang, and no alcohol burn is apparent. An outstanding start. Palate: Dark red fruit characteristics dominate, including plum, raisin, date, fig, prune, raspberry, and cranberry, with strawberry also present. It's dark, sweet, syrupy, and jam-like, with notes of maple and molasses. Nut flavors like walnut, almond, and chestnut are noticeable, alongside caramel, vanilla, toffee, and butterscotch. Hints of cola are present, along with some pear, apricot, and apple. Oak spice, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg add complexity. Solid overall. Finish: An immensely powerful finish, as expected at 57.8% ABV. It delivers a hit of dry red fruit and nutty notes, reminiscent of trail mix, followed by a spice explosion of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. A touch of orange peel provides citrus brightness. An excellent conclusion. I purchased this for $70, and it represents incredible value. It's the most affordable cask strength Scotch I've ever bought and can compete with any similar offering (excluding Lag 12, Ugi, or Corry). I slightly prefer it to Aberlour Abunadh, which is a fitting comparison given both are cask strength Scotch. What more can be said? Highly recommended. Availability might be an issue, as I acquired mine before the year ended. It's consistently good, but its nose is among the best I've experienced from a Speyside. I am now officially a Tamdhu enthusiast.

This is even superior to batch 003! The aroma is captivating; I could spend days appreciating it without tiring. Though marketed as a sherry bomb, it's remarkably well-balanced. Dark chocolate, dates, baking spices, and currants create wave after wave of mouthwatering scents. Each experience offers a slightly different but equally pleasing profile. The taste mirrors the aroma, with the addition of creamy, well-integrated malt alongside the other flavors. This clearly originates from a high-quality new make spirit. Reviewing the distillery's production methods and cask sourcing videos confirms their genuine commitment to integrity in the process, making the higher price fully justified. The finish is unending and warming, evoking memories of Christmas cookies, particularly ginger snaps, and those small almond sugar cookies with maraschino cherries, along with all the other aromatic notes. This is an exceptionally well-integrated malt, well worth the effort to locate. My concern was that batch 004 might show a decline in quality, similar to other spirits that have faced criticism, but thankfully, it hasn't. The producers clearly prioritize quality over quantity, and even at $90, I feel it was a worthwhile purchase for a premium malt. Batch 002 was a bit harsh for my preference, batch 003 was outstanding until this moment, and batch 004 surpasses it. The pinnacle of sherry cask aging. Cheers!

Nose (undiluted): Strawberries, caramel, toasted nuts, mixed berry and cream candies. (diluted): Significantly less sweet and fruity, with notes of shortbread cookies and flamed orange zest. Taste (undiluted): Hot, sweet, fruity spice/heat, red berries, rich brown simple syrup, orange zest, raisins. (diluted): Still hot but less tingle, orange zest with pith bitterness, raisins, cocoa nib. Finish (undiluted): Orange zest, light bitter pith lingers, persistent heat/tingle, sharp berry/raisin sweetness. (diluted): Slightly more bitter orange zest with pith, lingering heat, raisins, brown sugar. Score: 85/100 Final Assessment: Water significantly alters the nose, reducing fruitiness while introducing pleasant shortbread cookie and orange zest notes. The proof was quite high throughout. Intense red berries were present initially, but unfortunately, a persistent orange pith bitterness emerged, even after dilution. Raisin notes, typical of a sherry cask, were present, but the orange pith bitterness was somewhat distracting. While still tasty, the high proof and lingering bitterness detracted. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps Would I buy a bottle? - Not another from this batch NOTE: Price is not considered in these reviews.

The aroma is intense and complex, beginning with a blend of peaches in syrup, candied lemon peel, and roasted pistachios. This is followed by oatmeal cookies with dark chocolate chips, then powdered sugar-coated diced strawberries, dehydrated figs, and cherries jubilee. It transitions to cardamom, anise, and freshly roasted espresso beans, accompanied by a strong ethanol presence. The taste presents a rich, oily texture, starting with a moderately bitter and sour spice that gradually mellows into caramelized peaches with a hint of lemon, followed by vanilla gelato. Next are dark chocolate-covered roasted pistachios, then sour apples, sour cherries, and orange peel. It concludes with cardamom, anise, and freshly roasted espresso beans, with a pronounced ethanol burn. The finish is of medium duration, featuring candied lemon peel, sour apple, dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, ginger, cardamom, anise, and a touch of ash. This is an explosion of flavor, with bold notes of moderately tart fruits, dark chocolate, and some peppery spices. The nose is surprisingly rich and dense, with excellent balance that draws you in. The taste begins with a slight bitterness before the balanced, slightly tart, rich flavors emerge, leading to a finish of fruits, coffee, and mild spices. Considering its price point of approximately $100, I find this to be an outstanding value in today's market. Thank you very much to for the sample; it was a genuine pleasure.