Tamnavulin Single Malts of Scotland 21YO

Little seen. Little heard of but this is "the other 'vulin distillery". Normally the only bottles available are expensive relics of the 70s and 80s, but sometimes the UK's Whisky Exchange website gets in the odd indie bottle of it. And this is one such example.

Single cask, non-chill filtered and colouring-free, (they didn't really need to declare that in this case as it's colour is so light for a 21 year old malt).

Nose: Very light, immediately grassy with hay. Then some aniseed notes, grapefruit and lemon grass. Slight toffee hints - it becomes a tad richer and more intense with longer nosings as it opens in the glass.

Palate: Actually very similar notes to the nose. Continues with a drying grassiness. Some slightly bitter nuttiness. Walnuts perhaps - they're bitter nuts. Then some sharp lemon before it sweetens up.

Finish: Sharp lemon, dry and long. Slightly sweet before gradually fading to bitterness.

Well this was my first ever sample of Tamnavulin. My interest was drawn to it so I could cross if off my 'untried distilleries' list. And whilst the light malt is not my preferred style this is very interesting. It wavers from bitter to sweet and back again. It's predominantly light but has moments of complex intensity. I wouldn't call it a rollercoaster though, more of a sine wave.

Find where to buy Tamnavulin whisky