Tamdhu 2006/2015 The Ultimate

Looking for something affordable, enjoyable that can deliver that kick? You might just want to check if your local stockist has a Tamdhu on his shelves from the Dutch indy bottler Van Wees. Tamdhu and Van Wees, they are a match made in heaven. ‘The Ultimate’ range features a couple releases from this Speyside distillery, heavy on the sherry and their alcohol level well into the 60’s. I got pretty excited about my last bottle of Tamdhu from Van Wees, a 6yo (2004/2011) But with the bottle long slain and its memory fading, I decided it was time to look for a suitable replacement.

Description: distilled back in 2006, matured for 9 years in first fill sherry butt #914 and bottled in 2015 at an incredible 65.2% ABV.

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Nose: this is taking farmy to a whole new level: a powerful concoction of musty horse manure, tobacco and nutmeg, with a slice of orange peel.

Mouth: a gentle body with a massive sherry attack on the palate, loud screaming oak tannins and alcohol roaring in the background. The warm marmalade, that was so characteristic of my previous bottle is still there but much more toned down.

Finish: long and lingering, notes of dish wash detergent, spicy oak and orange marmalade, with just a pinch of salt.

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Verdict: As always with ‘The Ultimate’ Tamdhu, no twenty different subtle flavours. Just a sherry fuelled punch in the face, but that is enough to do the trick. If you haven’t tried it yet, be sure to track one down, they still come relatively cheap. Just a tip for the fellow fans of this product, it is an excellent night cap.

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