Tamdhu Batch Strength No. 1 Single Malt Whisky Review And Tasting Notes
The Tamdhu Batch Strength No. 1 Single Malt Whisky is a bomb, a spicy and sweet spirit, but with a heavy alcoholic charge that hits hard. For a moment, forget about the beautiful streams, the purity of the malt, and the birds that chirp in Speyside and dive into this whirlwind of fire and toffee melted in plum jam.
Many Speyside distilleries release these special editions to wake up the most demanding drinkers in alcohol content, but not taste.
We tell you right away that the quality is there compared to the price, which is very low, 65 euros, but honestly, it is a bottle cut with an ax. Don’t expect finesse, precision, or an elegant product.
Alcohol is predominant, and the alcoholic base is quite raw, only it has been tamed with a shock treatment in barrels used for sherry. Of course, you can put everything in these barrels, including white spirit and dish detergent, and the result will always be acceptable: everything is shaped and tamed by the power of the sherry butt.
And after this introduction, you may be wondering why you should buy this single malt. There aren’t many reasons unless you like whiskeys so alcoholic that they stun your taste buds.
If you add a drop of water, it calms down for a moment, opens up to more delicate and floral aromas, and becomes drinkable, but if you drink it straight, it is pure fire.
Organoleptic characteristics
The bouquet is intense, cheeky, and overbearing: it opens with a decadent and overripe fruit, mottled with candied orange references and dipped in salted butter. Dates poached in honey, apple pie cooked at low temperature with caramel burned in vanilla broth, and all the echoes due to sherry. All the fruit in the world, raisins, and grilled plums.
The nutmeg and chocolate frame is striking, but it doesn’t go deep. It remains on the surface.
The rhythm is there, but the cut is quite cumbersome, too violent. Even the nose is burned from the alcoholic arrogance. Not even the shadow of peat. Licorice finish and very slight herbaceous traces.
On the palate, it is undrinkable. Add a drop of water; otherwise, you will hear a flow of lava, pepper, and charred peppers. The wood is well dosed.
The nutty tones are tasty and amplify the aromatic and gustatory picture, but the problem is that we start from a raw material that is too sketchy and approximate.
It has a nice thickness, but then it vanishes immediately. It does not develop and leaves nothing but burnt tongues.
The age of the distillate is not specified, and I believe you. Nobody buys this Scotch for the nuances that have been created over the years, but only to take a punch in the face.
If you are looking for a virtuoso example of Speyside single malt, forget it, the malt is not exalted. If, on the other hand, you want to understand how much a distillery can work magic thanks to wood, then try it, and you will discover that the Tamdhu has a great handle: as a teaching value, it is excellent.
Price
65 euros, a price that reflects the acceptable quality of the product, but honestly, the Tamdhu 12 is simpler but much better.