Tag: Ian Macleod Distillers

Ian Macleod Distillers is based at Broxburn, West Lothian, and owns Glengoyne distillery in Stirlingshire and Tamdhu distillery at Knockando on Speyside. Other brands include Smokehead, Sheep dip, Langs blended whisky and Shieldaig.

Tamdhu Batch Strength Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/09/2019

In Single Malt whisky

Today I am trying a dram with a BIG ABV – 58.8%; the Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 001 single malt Scotch whisky. One of the higher alcohol by volume releases in my collection. However, I bought this bottle pretty much just for the shape, not the ABV.

The bottle stands out in between the ~~dull~~ standard whisky bottle shapes in my collection. It is lovely and will be repurposed when empty. However, from where is Tamdhu?

It was in 1863 that the Strathspey railway first graced Speyside’s countryside. The Railway created a dependable means of travel and several distilleries were built. Tamdhu distillery was founded in 1896 in Speyside by a group of investors. During 1897 it was bought by Highland Distillers.

In 2009, the Tamdhu Distillery was mothballed. It was then sold to Ian MacLeod Distillers in June 2011. The new owners fired up the stills soon afterwards and started producing single malt again.

Tamdhu lies on the banks of the mighty River Spey, not far from Knockando. The Knockando distillery’s old railway station has since been converted into the Tamdhu visitor centre.

The new owners released their first Tamdhu single malt in 2013 – the delicious Tamdhu 10 yo. Tamdhu Batch Strength was introduced in early 2015, and it is aged exclusively in first-fill Sherry casks.

It has been followed up by Batch 002 and 003 since then, and the current release is Batch 004. Tamdhu also has a Distillery Managers Edition as well as a Dalbeallie II release.

The Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 001 is a single malt that was matured exclusively in American and European oak Sherry casks. It is bottled without chill-filtration or additional colours.

Also Read: Amrut Two Continents Whisky

Tamdhu Batch Strength Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 58.5%

COLOUR: Amber

NOSE: Sherry hints with dark chocolate covered cherries. Some alcohol on the nose. It needs to breathe a bit. Then there are notes of sweetness and wood. Bits of vanilla and toffee sweetness with red berries and sultanas.

PALATE: Quite an alcohol bite. Fruity sweetness mixed with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Brandied cherries, red grapes with bits of pepper and toffee sweetness. Sherry mixed with cognac notes. Water tones down the alcohol bite, but add it carefully. You only need to add a few drops of water.

FINISH: Red berries mixed with spicy pepper. A long finish that lingers around for a while still.

RATING: EXCELLENT

A big, bold sherry mouthful! A delicious sherry bomb. This Batch Strength single malt Scotch is not an easy-drinking, finish the bottle tonight type of whisky. The Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 001 is the type of whisky where you have one glass a week.

At the end of the meal, when you want to sit and debate the meaning of life while slowly sipping something special. When you have time to sit back and appreciate the boldness.

Also Read: Jura 10 yo Origin whisky

Tamdhu 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/05/2017

In Single Malt whisky

The first thing that drew me to the Tamdhu 10 year old was the bottle shape. In between all the similar shaped whisky bottles, the beautiful Tamdhu bottles stood out. The old fashioned bevelled bottle reflects the light like a crystal.

Regardless of the taste, I wanted the bottle for the shape. Then I went to read up about this Speyside distillery, and I just had to taste the Tamdhu 10 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

In 1896, a group of investors founded the Tamdhu Distillery and a year later it was bought by Highland Distillers. Highland Distillers today is a subsidiary of Edrington Group who own Highland Park, the Macallan and Famous Grouse whisky. Located in the Scottish Speyside town of Knockando in Banffshire, Scotland, Tamdhu means “little dark hill” in Gaelic.

The Tamdhu distillery was mothballed in 2009 and subsequently sold to Ian MacLeod Distillers in June 2011. The new owners fired up the stills soon afterwards and started producing single malt again.

Today Tamdhu uses sherry casks from Jerez in Spain. The casks are shipped whole to Speyside to ensure none of the flavours is lost. The newly filled casks are matured on the banks of the River Spey.

The Tamdhu 10 year old whisky is the signature malt and the first release by the new owners. The whisky is matured exclusively in sherry casks.

Also Read: Glengoyne 17 year old whisky

Tamdhu 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Polished copper, both in the bottle and in the glass. There is a lovely warm reddish glow to the spirit.

NOSE: Sweetness of ripe berries fruits, mixed with some butterscotch and vanilla. Hints of raisins and spicy oak.

PALATE: Sweet fruitiness balanced with notes of cinnamon, black pepper and cardamom with hints of dried citrus peel. The addition of water adds more smoothness to the Tamdhu 10 year old and bring the flavours together in a more luxurious and a more sophisticated way.

FINISH: A bit short. It ends in notes of citrus en pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is probably one of the more citrusy whiskies I have tasted. The citrus is nicely balance with spices and a fruity sweetness. An elegant and luxurious dram.

At the end of 2016, I paired this Tamdhu 10 year old Scotch with some De VilliersCinnamon and Chili dark chocolate. The pairing worked very well. The chocolate enhanced the Tamdhu 10 yo whisky finish to make it MILES long. I have also tried theTamdhu Batch Strength Batch 001, and it is a huge mouth full.

Also Read: Benromach 10 yo whisky

Glengoyne 17 year old Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/08/2016

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at the Glengoyne 17 year old single malt Scotch whisky. Situated on the A81 in Scotland, next to a beautiful wooded area, the Glengoyne distillery sits at the foot of Dumgoyne Hill near Loch Lomond.

The distillery was started in 1833 and was known as the Burnfoot Distillery. It changed owners and names a few times; However, it has been one of the longest continuously run distilleries in Scotland.

It is located right on the line that divides the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. Glengoyne’s stills are in the Highlands while the filled casks of whisky mature across the road in the Lowlands.

It also sits on the popular West Highland Way, a long-distance footpath. The path is a 150km long trail, from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Highlands.

Although Glengoyne is a Highland whisky, the whisky characteristics are closer to the Lowland drams. The water and the malt are unpeated. Glengoyne does not use peat smoke to dry their barley but instead uses warm air.

Glengoyne claim to have the slowest distillation rate, and according to the distillery, this creates a softer, smoother taste. In April 2003, Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd. acquired the Glengoyne Distillery from the Edrington Group.

Glengoyne doesn’t release the 17 year old anymore. The Glengoyne 17 year old whisky has a higher portion of 1st fill Sherry casks compared to their other releases. I loved the Glengoyne 21 year old, and it was my Single Malt of the Year 2014. Hopefully, this release will live up to my high expectations.

Related Article: Glenfiddich Age Of Discovery whisky

Glengoyne 17 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A rich dark reddish copper

NOSE: Initially the nose has notes of fruitiness and sherry. Then some spicy oak bits mixed with vanilla and nougat come through. The nose is rich but gentle.

PALATE: Compared to the nose, the palate on the Glengoyne 17 year old whisky is bold and robust. The palate is full of ripe fruit, sweet juicy pears, figs, condensed milk sweetness balanced with oak spiciness and malty goodness. The addition of water seems to bring out much more wood and dried citrus. I prefer it, however, without water.

FINISH: Long and lingering and stays for a long time. It ends in spicy wood notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is sad that this Glengoyne 17 year old single malt Scotch whisky has been discontinued. This dram is a wonderful warming whisky, perfect for winter. It is not as great as the 21 year old whisky, but certainly good enough to call for a second glass. What did you think of this release?

Also Read: Tamdhu Batch 001 Whisky

Glengoyne 21 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/30/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Time for something a bit older, the Glengoyne 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky. Positioned in the Highlands, Glengoyne Distillery is situated in a wooded valley close to a small river that flows into the famous Loch Lomond. In the past, the woodlands, which covered the surrounding area, gave good shelter for illicit whisky distilling.

The Glengoyne Distillery began distilling legally in 1833 and was known as the Burnfoot distillery. The story goes that the owner intended to name the distillery Glengoyne, but due to a mistake by a clerk, it was recorded as Glen Guin. Later it was changed to Glengoyne, which translates from ‘Glenguin’ or ‘Glen of the Wild Geese’.

Glengoyne is one of the few distilleries left producing whisky in this part of Scotland today. Glengoyne is owned by Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd., a Scottish, family-owned business. Various features make Glengoyne unique. They produce Highland single malts, but the whisky is matured in the Scottish Lowlands.

Also Read: GlenDronach 13 yo whisky

The boundary line runs underneath the A81 road and passes in front of the distillery. Glengoyne’s stills are situated in the Highlands, while the maturing casks of whisky rest across the road in the Lowlands.

Unlike many malt whisky distilleries, Glengoyne does not use peat smoke to dry their barley but instead uses warm air. As a result, Glengoyne has been noted as being stylistically closer to a Lowland single malt than a Highland single malt. Glengoyne is also one of only two distilleries remaining today that uses Golden Promise barley.

This barley is low in yield but high in quality. Glengoyne also enjoys the slowest distillation rate in Scotland (the spirit comes from the still at around 4-5 litres per minute). It encourages the formation of ‘esters’, giving Glengoyne its distinctively sweet, smooth taste.

Glengoyne 21 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

The Glengoyne 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky is matured in oak casks from Spain, which previously contained sherry.

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: Another dark whisky where the colour is closer to red copper than gold. It is quite oily and leaves long legs in the glass.

NOSE: at once brings sherry sweetness. There are dried fruits, Christmas cake and hints of oak and vanilla. The addition of a few drops of water changes the nose. With the water, the Glengoyne nose brings more fresh fruit.

PALATE: This is quite a spicy whisky on the palette. It is wonderfully smooth and rich. Mixed with the spiciness, there are notes of sherry, oak and honey sweetness. The Glengoyne 21 year old balances the sweetness with the spicy to create a warming and comforting taste. There are hints of barley, vanilla and toffee.

FINISH: Long and lingering and goes on and on. It is a full-bodied whisky that ends in notes of spice, oak and ginger. John forgot to finish his notes and had to pour a second glass to complete the tasting notes.

RATING: DIVINE

This whisky makes you want to sit in front of a fire with loved ones and just stop to appreciate life. It’s delicious! The Glengoyne 21 year old whisky is well-balanced, smooth and rich.

It is a satisfying whisky that lifts your spirits and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling that everything is well with the world. I can’t wait to try more expressions from this interesting distillery.

Also Read: The Old Pulteney 21 yo whisky