Tamdhu distillery is well represented on this website, but mostly the modern production. Some of the old bottlings are quite enjoyable (see Tamdhu 10 Years from the late 1970s) but they can be hard to find.
Today we’re trying a Tamdhu 1971 vintage bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in their MacPhail’s Collection. There are glorious releases in this series but some of them are held back by a low ABV.
Tamdhu 1971 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘MacPhail’s Collection’ 2011)
Nose: slightly dusty cupboard at first, with old books and simple malty notes. Goes on with cooked apples, pears and subtle hints of peaches. A little vanilla. Then light hints of honey, golden raisins and lightly caramelized pecans. Gentle and old-fashioned.
Mouth: reasonably oily but quite soft. More of these cooked fruits that are hard to discern after so many years. Minty notes and dried herbs like chamomile. Old wood comes out (with an astringent edge), as well as some nutmeg and nuts. Vague syrupy sweetness in the background.
Finish: medium long, with some tannins and oak spice getting stronger, alongside nuts and tobacco leaves.
While we’re always approaching such old releases with an open mind, this shows a few cracks. The nose is really nice and the modest ABV keeps it nicely drinkable, but on the palate it falls short of expectations. Still some old bottles available, although this also seems to exist in the modern bottle shape. Thanks, Joren!