PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Tamdhu built its reputation almost entirely on sherry-driven maturation, but this particular cask, drawn from a single ex-bourbon hogshead, takes the distillery's naturally rich, malty spirit in a genuinely different direction — bourbon oak's cleaner, sweeter influence rather than the deep dried-fruit character Tamdhu is best known for. Distilled in 1998 and left to mature a full 20 years, Cask #18-2003 was bottled in 2018 by Valinch & Mallet, an independent Italian bottler founded by Davide Romano and Fabio Ermoli, known for a genuine emphasis on transparency around cask details and for releasing carefully selected single casks at true cask strength. This is a genuine rarity even by independent-bottling standards — just 161 bottles came from the entire cask, with only 18 of those ever making it to Canada.
Kensington Wine Market's own extensive tasting captured the whisky's genuine richness directly: "nose: dumpy, candied cherries and orange peel soaked in an old fashioned cocktail; doughy, dense and decadent; cookies n' cream and cardamom flavoured ice cream; molten white chocolate and caramel chews; cantaloupe and mangos with black pepper." On the palate: "thick, chewy and very rich; creme caramel, more molten white chocolate, caramel chews and cardamom ice cream; bright orange rind and candied cherry pulled from an Old Fashioned cocktail; Strawberry Twizzlers and fruit Jelly Bellies; butter tart filling." Suds and Spirits' official tasting note confirms similarly rich, dessert-driven character, describing "deep sherry richness" — genuinely notable given this is an ex-bourbon cask rather than sherry, and speaks to just how much depth Tamdhu's own house spirit carries independent of wood type — with "dried figs, raisins, orange peel, dark chocolate, and polished oak" on the nose, developing into "toffee, stewed fruit, cocoa, cinnamon spice, and rich malt sweetness" on the palate, closing "long" and warming. Bottled non-chill filtered, in natural colour, at natural cask strength — this is genuinely rare, richly flavored Speyside whisky, with real scarcity backing up its considerable depth.
Valinch & Mallet Tamdhu 20 Year Old is sourced from Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside, Scotland, a distillery historically part of Highland Distillers alongside Glengoyne and Macallan, later rescued in July 2011 by Ian McLeod Distillers (who also own Glengoyne) after closing in 2010. This particular single cask, #18-2003, was distilled in 1998 and matured a full 20 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before bottling in 2018, yielding just 161 bottles.
The whisky is bottled by Valinch & Mallet, an independent Italian bottler founded in the mid-2010s by Davide Romano and Fabio Ermoli, known for carefully selected single-cask releases bottled at cask strength with a genuine emphasis on transparency around cask details. Bottled non-chill filtered, in natural colour, at cask strength — 53.3% ABV, 750ml.
No formal numerical critic score is confirmed for this specific cask at this time.
Kensington Wine Market (extended tasting note):
"This is an exceptional single cask of Tamdhu, distilled in 1998 and matured in an ex-Bourbon Hogshead. The whisky was bottled after 20 years at a cask strength 53.3%. Only 18 bottles came to Canada. Tamdhu is a distillery best known for producing sherry cask matured whiskies. Nose: Dumpy, candied cherries and orange peel soaked in an old fashioned cocktail; doughy, dense and decadent; cookies n cream and cardamom flavoured ice cream; molten white chocolate and caramel chews; cantaloupe and mangos with black pepper. Palate: Thick, chewy and very rich; creme caramel, more molten white chocolate, caramel chews and cardamom ice cream; bright orange rind and candied cherry pulled from an Old Fashioned cocktail; Strawberry Twizzlers and fruit Jelly Bellies; butter tart filling."
Suds and Spirits (official tasting note):
"Nose: Deep sherry richness with aromas of dried figs, raisins, orange peel, dark chocolate, and polished oak. Palate: Luxurious and powerful with layers of toffee, stewed fruit, cocoa, cinnamon spice, and rich malt sweetness. Finish: Long, warming."
Hi Proof (official tasting note):
"Known for its sherry-influenced style, Tamdhu develops layers of dried fruit, rich malt, vanilla, toasted oak, and warm baking spices through extended maturation."
Nose
Candied cherry and orange peel lead, joined by dried fig, raisin, and dark chocolate, alongside cookies and cream, cardamom, and molten white chocolate.
Palate
Thick, chewy, and rich, with crème caramel, caramel chew, and toffee carrying the entry, developing bright orange rind, stewed fruit, cocoa, and cinnamon spice, alongside cantaloupe, mango, and black pepper.
Finish
Long and warming, closing with lingering butter tart, dark chocolate, and rich malt sweetness — genuinely dessert-like depth from a single ex-bourbon cask.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Single Cask, Cask Strength |
| ABV | 53.3% |
| Age | 20 Years |
| Cask | #18-2003 — Ex-Bourbon Hogshead |
| Distilled | 1998 |
| Bottled | 2018 |
| Outturn | 161 Bottles |
| Distillery | Tamdhu — Speyside, Scotland |
| Bottler | Valinch & Mallet — founded by Davide Romano & Fabio Ermoli |
| Chill Filtered | No |
| Colour | Natural |
| Style / Identity | A genuine single cask — rich, dessert-driven character despite bourbon (not sherry) cask maturation |
| Aromas & Flavors | Candied cherry, orange peel, white chocolate, caramel, cardamom, mango |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Enjoy neat in a Glencairn glass to appreciate the full cask-strength complexity; a few drops of water can help open additional layers.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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