Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 001

This is in solid A’bunadh territory in terms of quality. It’s not sherry napalming your village, though. This has a strangely delightful Macallan richness. On the nose, it is the most Macallan of non-Macallan whiskies. The bottle shape is like a Macallan from the future. What the fuck is Tamdhu trying to do? Be more Macallan than Macallan? I certainly don’t mind the nose; it’s decadant, if a bit unoriginal. The palate, thankfully, has an original detour. Sweet honeyed Wonderbread, Lindt chocolate infused with red chili and sea salt. This is the definition of a sultry whisky. The youth shows on the somewhat anticlimactic finish. From memory: better than Glenfarclas 105, better than Macallan Classic Cut, better than Glengoyne Cask Strength… better than the recent Aberlour A’Bunadh’s; not quite at the level as the old A’Bunadh’s, but the ABV is not as prominent either. You can have this with or without water. I am not sure. I must save some of this delicious bottle for a blind tasting with all the NAS sherries I have, which includes unopened batches in the 30s of A’bunadh... Presumptive mark: 91/100