Tamdhu 22 Years Old 1991 Port Cask

By Barry Bradford on November 26, 2014 • ( Leave a comment )

Tamdhu-Glenlivet 22 Years Old 1991 Port Cask (57%, Cadenheads, 258 Bottles, 2014)

57% ABV,
£56 for 70cl
Score: 83/100

What they say:

Tamdhu Glenlivet was matured in Port pipes until bottling in February 2014 at cask strength 57% vol. 1 of only 258 bottles.

Nose: A real wintery nose – dried fruits, menthol, eucalyptus and tobacco combine to provide plenty of rich, warm notes.
Palate: As mellow as you would expect from a Speysider of this age.Still pretty rich and full bodied, the tobacco remains present along with a little hickory smoke, caramel and mocha.
Finish: Nutty with gentle spices – think almonds, pecan, cinammon and cloves.

What I say:

The polar opposite to the Glenlossie (previous dram at the tasting), this one really needed water to draw out that Jammy Port Finish. Without water this whisky was a little too strong, woody and sugary. With water it was sublimely beautiful but still feisty and well-matured (oaky). Close to being my favourite of the evening if only it weren’t for the Laphroaig 22 Years Old 1991 Authentic Collection ~ 49.8% (Wm Cadenhead)

Colour:

Rich gold.

Nose:

Fragrant nose with vaporous ‘fines’ alcohol and wine, chloroform, mellow oak woody aroma and leafmould (autumnal decomposing fallen leaves).

Taste:

Warming orange (essential) oil, meaty and chewy tasting with a little salt, a little water revealed jammy woodland fruits and woody sugars with a grapefruit pithy/zesty flavour.