Tamnavulin Double Cask

A nice intense nose that brings dried banana chips, vanilla custard, subtle lemon, more cream, and floral properties, like jasmine. The palate is hot for 40%, but it's on the nice sweet end, reminiscent to a Monkey Shoulder blend. I am not sure if that's good though since we are comparing that to this single malt. The finish is sadly non-existent on this one with a thin and dry mouthfeel. 2.5 for me. The theme is "The Sound of Settling" by Death Cab for Cutie. Thanks for the sip @LeeEvolved!

Yes, it’s a Tuesday. But it’s the day before the Fourth. No work tomorrow, so I will pour a sample which was provided by @LeeEvolved who has been downright generous with all his samples; as well as all the other members of the SDT: @PBMichiganWolverine and @Generouy_Paul and @Telex. The nose begins with citrus with pink grapefruit with honey (it’s how I used to eat the in my youth). A toasted bread with orange marmalade is what is transformed (or is it transscented) in time. As it settles in, the sherry qualities become predominant: pecans, raisins, dates, plumbs, cinnamon, brown sugar. A small amount semisweet dark chocolate surfaces in due time. The body is lightweight and thin which causes any flavor to fade rather quickly. In small flashes are vanilla, demerara sugar, apples, cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Sugar and spice in a small dose. What remains on the palate, briefly, is drying oak and cinnamon. What tends to make a great/exceptional whisky is the full experience from start to finish (probably stating the obvious). The nose transports you somewhere, the palate jettisons you into orbit and the finish brings you back smoothly. Most whiskies often fail by not being able to deliver two or even all three of these goals. This Tamnavalin delivers a nice nose but struggles to complete the other portions. Still, though, it not unpleasant. It’s just leaves you expecting more; wanting more. [84/100][Tasted: 7/3/18]

This pour is courtesy of @LeeEvolved as part of our round 6 of the SDT tour ( one more round to go, and we’ll have covered very active distillery in Scotland). For $36, you can do a lot worse for NAS, or you can do a lot better if you go outside Scotland single malt. Not bad for a single malt...weak nose typical of the dried fruit from sherry cask; taste of quickly fading hazelnuts and oak. A bit of marzipan. Wow..the finish is bitter. Lemon rinds. Honestly..if you really want a single malt $36 isn’t too much of a price for this. That said, there’s nothing really noteworthy. You have other options: fork over a bit more and get a damn good blend ( Compass Box core ranges, the amazing JW Green), or get American ( Rittenhouse rye, Wyoming whiskey); heck..push comes to shove...walk over to the wine aisle and grab an amazing Oregon Pinot while saving $20 off the $36 price of this. In summary: not bad...but you can do better for $36-40 range

GP is on the money; Sherry oak, cherry, brown sugar and sulphur with a nice caramelly viscousness. Now I like a bit of sulphur..nothing like a bit of worm tub action to get my pulse racing (yes Mortlach and Craigellachie I'm looking at you). The sulphur note however trends to bitterness which I am very unforgiving on - lemony flavour and bitterness are no nos for me and the after taste smacks of ethanolly, citrusey bitterness. Still it's cheap at under $50 and so 3.5 for me and rounding up to a 4 as after this I had a 21 year Tormore and thought compared to that this is much cheaper and better.

Stop number 89 on the SDT is Tamnavulin. Another relatively unknown Speyside distillery, Tamnavulin is used mostly in blends, but they do have a range of their own single malts. This NAS was matured in American oak (most likely ex bourbon) and finished in sherry casks. Bottled at 40% ABV and is surely chill filtered with colorant added giving it a dark amber color. Strong sherry up front on the nose with oak, cherries and brown sugar. A definite chalky/talc note with a small hit of sulphur. Milk chocolate, hazelnut, caramelized peaches, grilled plums and more oak. The oak is well done, warm and inviting. Raisins, dates, some honey, cinnamon and cocoa powder. Maple syrup, vanilla, oranges, apricots, walnuts and a hint of coffee. That sulphur note comes back strong and takes over at times. It really detracts from an otherwise solid nose. The palate is lighter than expected as far as the sherry goes, I guess that’s to be expected at 40%. Oak, pears, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. It turn sulphuric and has some bitter nuts. A little pepper, coffee, maple, anise and a light mint. Again the sulphur detracts from the experience. A medium light bodied mouthfeel that is mouth coating and dry. The finish is medium long with sherry, sulphur, nuts and light oak. On first impressions I thought I was in for a toned down Tamdhu, but upon further inspection I found lots of faults. The nose had a ton of complexity especially considering the legal minimum ABV, but it just didn’t have that quality feel to it. The palate was a bigger let down with the sulphur ruining much of it. I can see plenty of scotch lovers getting on good terms with this one, but it’s just not one that I would seek out. I have to say, at $36 it’s tough to beat its value. I was going to give a 3.25, but the price point bumps it to a 3.5. Thanks to @LeeEvolved for the sample. Cheers