Tamdhu 10 is the Speyside malt that spent a couple of years silent, came back quietly and now makes some of the best-value sherry-cask whisky in the country. This Tamdhu 10 review is about a 40% malt matured entirely in sherry-seasoned oak, and the Caskable score is 78 out of 100. It is a fruity, spicy and soft whisky that would be easy to overlook on a crowded shelf.
I think that is a shame. Tamdhu does sherry with a lighter hand than the big names, and the result is a whisky you can drink a whole bottle of without getting bored.
Tamdhu sits on the River Spey near Knockando, and it was mothballed in 2010 before being bought by Ian Macleod Distillers in 2011 and reopened in 2012. Since then it has become known for its sherry-cask whiskies. My Speyside history tells the story of the region’s crowded map of distilleries.
The 10 is bottled at 40% and is matured in sherry-seasoned oak casks, a mix of American and European. Tamdhu uses only sherry casks and no bourbon wood, which makes it unusual among Speyside distilleries at this price. My sherry cask vs bourbon cask explainer covers the difference.
It is a younger whisky than many sherried malts, and the ten-year age statement suggests a bright, fruity profile rather than the deep, dark richness of an older bottle.
The style is fruity, soft and gently spicy. The nose has orange peel, red apple, honey and a trace of cinnamon. There is a warm, slightly nutty quality that comes from the sherry casks.
The palate is smooth and sweet, with dried fruit, toffee and a hint of ginger. The sherry is present, but it is light, with none of the heavy bitterness that some sherried malts have. The finish is medium, soft and slightly spicy, with a hint of oak.
My score of 78 reflects a pleasant, well-made malt that is a point or two behind the best sherried bottles at the same price. At 40%, the whisky is a little thin, and I think it would benefit from a higher strength. Even so, it is a lovely drink.
Neat, with a few drops of water, in a tulip glass. At 40% it is soft enough that water is not needed. A single cube is fine, though the sherry notes show better without. It is an easy whisky for any evening.
In cocktails, it makes a smooth Old Fashioned, a fruity Manhattan and a gentle Hot Toddy. Dark chocolate, fruitcake and mild cheese are good partners.
The Tamdhu range includes the 10, the 12, the 15, the 18 and the Batch Strength releases, which are bottled at cask strength. The 10 is the entry bottle. The strength is 40%. The bottle is simple, with a sherry-coloured label.
It pairs well with roast pork, dried fruit, blue cheese and chocolate desserts. The soft sherry suits rich but not heavy food.
Tamdhu’s history is a reminder of how fragile the whisky business can be. The distillery was closed in 2010 by its owner of the time, which was a blow to the local community, and it nearly disappeared. Ian Macleod Distillers bought it, invested in it and reopened it, and it has since become a quiet success. It is a classic example of how an independent firm can rescue a distillery and give it a new identity.
That identity is sherry. By committing to sherry casks only, Tamdhu has carved out a niche in a crowded region. It means the whisky has a consistent character, and it means you know what you are getting. In a market full of vague claims about cask types, that clarity is refreshing.
There are two broad schools of sherried Speyside. One is the dark, heavy, Christmas-pudding style, as made by Glenfarclas and GlenDronach. The other is lighter and brighter, with sherry giving fruit and spice without weight. Tamdhu belongs to the second school, and that makes it an excellent choice for drinkers who find the heavy style overwhelming. It has the sweetness and spice of sherry, but it keeps a freshness that makes it easy to drink in the afternoon.
The lighter style also suits food better. A heavy sherry bomb can flatten a meal, but a Tamdhu will sit comfortably with roast chicken, a mild curry or a cheese plate. If you are looking for a sherried whisky to introduce someone new to the style, I would pour this before I poured a Macallan or a GlenDronach.
At about £44 for 70 cl it is fair. For about £38, Aberlour 12 Double Cask scores 81. GlenDronach 12 runs to about £50 and scores 82. Glenfarclas 12, at about £48, scores 80.
All three score higher, and the Aberlour costs £6 less. Tamdhu is a nice alternative for those who like a lighter sherry. Check the retailer link before buying.
If Tamdhu 10 is not quite what you are after, these are the bottles I would look at next. Each one has its own review on the site, with a score and a price.
It is the best-value sherried Speyside.
For a lighter sherry-finished malt, it is an alternative.
Sherry-cask fans who prefer a lighter style, Speyside explorers and gift buyers. For a better-value sherried Speyside, Aberlour 12 Double Cask is the alternative.
A soft, fruity, gently spiced sherry-cask Speyside malt with a lighter touch than most. Pleasant and a touch thin. Caskable score: 78 out of 100.
Orange peel, red apple, honey and a trace of cinnamon, with a warm, slightly nutty sherry quality.
Smooth and sweet, with dried fruit, toffee and a hint of ginger. Sherry present but light.
Medium, soft and slightly spicy, with a hint of oak.
Soft, fruity and gently spiced, with a lighter touch than most sherried malts. Pleasant, a touch thin.
Thomas Grønvold is the founder of Caskable and a whisky enthusiast who believes the best way to learn about whisky is simply to drink it, compare it, and stay curious. From supermarket favourites to bottles from distilleries around the world, he writes about what he actually tastes and experiences, without pretending you need to be an expert to enjoy a good dram.
View profile →
