Full disclosure, I am a Tamdhu fanboy. I will buy everything they release following their rebranding after being sold to Ian Macleod from Edrington Group if it’s within my power (obviously the 50 year old for $20,000 is out of my price range). The Dalbeallie Dram is special bottle commemorating the Dalbeallie railway station that was built in Speyside that allowed for the movement of barley, people, coal and casks from Spain. Only 1000 bottles were released and I was lucky enough to land bottles 368 and 369. Bottled at 62.1% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of red mahogany rubbed with iron oxide. The nose is intense with rich Oloroso sherry, but does not lean too sweet. A very deep, dark profile. Red berries, raisins, brown sugar/molasses. Dark caramel and toffee, vanilla, oak, musty red grapes. Hardly any alcohol burn. Fairly floral and herbal with mint, slightly earthy and a Big Red gum punch in the nose. After a long time left to settle down, there are plums, allspice, dark chocolate and even some pineapple. Orange peels, almonds, tangerines and warm bread. Slightly bitter black tea, walnuts, nutmeg and blackberry jam. Water makes it more savory with richer caramel and more nutty. Cherries and licorice, both black and red. Apple pie, strawberries, banana peels, cinnamon and vanilla. The palate is an intense rush of sherry, both spicy and sweet. I was immediately reminded of Macallan Classic Cut. Walnuts, almonds, coffee, dark chocolate. Oranges, black Earl Grey tea, mint and cinnamon. Water brought out cherries, sherry saturated oak, a dark sweetness. Nutty like peanut brittle and very juicy. I decided to experiment and added enough water to bring on some scotch mist (which was more water than I expected) and it turns out that this dram does not hold up to that much water. It became more bitter than anything with mostly black tea notes, so a word to the wise, less is more here. A full bodied mouthfeel that is oily, hot at times and mouthwatering. The finish is very long with sherry, tea, walnut skins, slightly bitter/tannic with light cinnamon. This was a Herculean dram indeed. Not for the faint hearted. The sherry is so intense that I dare say it was almost too much...almost. It begs for water, but doesn’t always need it. The price point is high at $160 but I think that’s more indicative of is limited run and high collectibility status. This is not one that you can sit and sip all night, you will melt your face off. This is best taken 1oz at a time and only once or twice a week at most. Otherwise you won’t have any tastebuds left. Tons of flavor and lots of complexity. 4.75 and I’m glad I got to share it with my SDT cohorts @Scott_E, @LeeEvolved, @Telex and @PBMichiganWolverine Cheers