🥃 Tamdhu
Speyside single malt distillery in Knockando, built in 1897 and best known for sherry-cask whisky; owned by Ian Macleod Distillers since 2011.
If you look for sherry-matured Speyside single malt, Tamdhu is one of the names you will meet. It is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Knockando, built in 1897 by a group of blenders and owned by Ian Macleod Distillers since 2011. The name is Gaelic for 'little dark hill'.
History. The distillery was built by a group of blenders led by William Grant; the architect was Charles Doig. Highland Distillers acquired it in full in 1899. From 1927 it stood idle for nearly two decades, resumed production in 1948, and around 1950 the malting floors were replaced with Saladin boxes. Edrington managed it from 1999 and mothballed it in 2009 or 2010; sources differ. Ian Macleod bought Tamdhu in 2011 and reopened it the following year.
How it is made. Capacity is about 4 million litres of pure alcohol a year. There are nine wooden washbacks of 53,500 litres and several stills, although sources differ on their number. Water comes from a spring or well, and the spirit is traditionally filled into sherry casks.
Range. A 10-year-old, 100% sherry-cask whisky appeared in 2013; there are also 12, 15 and 18-year-old expressions and Batch Strength versions.
Why it matters to you. 'Sherry cask' describes maturation, not the composition. The age on the label is that of the youngest whisky. Until 2011 the distillery mainly worked for blends, so single malt releases were few. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1897, a group of blenders led by William Grant; Knockando (Speyside) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Speyside) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | barley malt; water from a spring or well |
| Distillation method | twice; 9 wooden washbacks of 53,500 l; capacity about 4 million litres |
| Cask type | oloroso sherry casks (American and European oak) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; 10-year-old — 10 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law; Batch Strength is higher |
How it connects to Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glen Moray, 🥃 Glen Moray, 🥃 Mortlach, 🥃 Mortlach, 🥃 Black Dog, 🥃 Black Dog
Frequently asked questions
Is Tamdhu a sherry cask whisky?
Traditionally yes: it is filled into sherry casks, mainly ones that held oloroso. Ian Macleod also releases 100% sherry-cask versions.
Who owns Tamdhu distillery?
Ian Macleod Distillers, since 2011; before that Highland Distillers and Edrington.
What does Tamdhu mean in Gaelic?
Little dark hill.
Was the distillery closed for long?
Yes: idle for about twenty years from the late 1920s, and again mothballed before reopening.
What strength is Tamdhu single malt?
By law Scotch whisky must be at least 40% ABV (80 proof); Batch Strength versions are higher, so check the label.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Dailuaine · 🥃 Knockdhu · 🥃 Auchroisk · 🥃 Tamnavulin · 🥃 Glen Elgin
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Tamdhu (1897, Highland Distillers 1899, closure from 1927, Edrington 1999, Ian Macleod 2011, nine wooden washbacks, 4 mln litres)
- Tamdhu (official site): Speyside distillery, Knockando, 1897, sherry casks, Ian Macleod
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)