Whisky Focus - Tamdhu Speyside Festival 2022 Bottlings Now Available Online

Tamdhu Single Malt Scotch Whisky is celebrating its 125th anniversary year with two limited edition launches at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival and the good news is if you are not lucky enough to be attending the first in-person Speyside Whisky Festival since 2019 then the two special limited release bottlings will be available to purchase online direct the the Tamdhu website.

The first Speyside Festival exclusive release is the 5th release in the much-loved Dalbeallie series, the second is an exclusive cask strength limited edition of Tamdhu’s recently launched 18 Year Old expression.

Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 5 takes its name from the iconic Victorian train station which sits next to the Tamdhu distillery, the station played a pivotal role in shaping what Tamdhu is today. Although Dalbeallie station closed over 50 years ago the part the Victorian railway played in transporting Tamdhu's sherry oak casks from Spain shaped the flavour profile of the Speyside single malt we know today and it hasn't been forgotten by the distillery.

Dalbeallie Dram 5, like all Tamdhu bottlings was exclusively matured from start to finish in Oloroso sherry casks. It’s individually numbered and bottled at what should be a very flavoursome cask strength of 62% ABV, non-chillfiltered and natural colour.

Tamdhu describe it as: "On the nose you’re hit with rich, creamy butterscotch and roasted hazelnuts. Sultanas and dates bring mouth-watering richness and are joined by a whisper of toasted oak. To taste, the butterscotch develops into homemade toffee, and apricots join the sultanas and dates. Vanilla and cinnamon bring a gentle warmth. A long finish with a rich mouthfeel, with the subtle spice coming to a crescendo right at the finish".

Only 1,000 bottles of the Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 5 will be available to purchase exclusively via Tamdhu Distillery during the Spirit of Speyside Festival and from their online shop, priced at £100.00 per 70cl bottle.

Tamdhu 18 Year Old Cask Strength Limited Edition is a cask strength version of the Tamdhu 18 Year Old that was launched at the end of March to mark the distillery's 125th anniversary year, the anniversary bottling of the 18 year old was presented at 46.8% ABV, this Spirit of Speyside Festival limited edition of the 18 year old has been bottled at a cask strength of 56.8% ABV.

The distillery described the Tamdhu 18 Year Old Cask Strength dram as a celebration of full-term sherry maturation in American and European oak Oloroso casks. They say Tamdhu’s signature fruity spirit has married with these casks for 18 long years to deliver a deep, rich, natural copper hue, as well as layer upon layer of indulgent flavour.

They tell me that "on nose, the cask strength dram brings typical sherried notes of rich nuttiness and dried fruits – walnuts, raisins, and prunes. Cherry crumble with lashings of velvety dark chocolate. On the palate, the moreish flavours develop with the addition of caramelised brown sugar, vanilla, and red apple, like a warm apple strudel. A warming finish with soft cinnamon spice, stewed apples, and syrupy dates".

Only 1,000 bottles of the Tamdhu 18 Cask Strength Limited Edition will be available to purchase exclusively via the Tamdhu Distillery during the Spirit of Speyside Festival  and from the online shop. priced at £195.00 per 70cl bottle.

You will find Tamdhu's current whisky range available from specialist online whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange, Hard To Find Whisky and Master of Malt
 

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