I'm writing this up after a few beers and whiskies, which I'm hoping will make my notes during the tasting more legible. In the words of my favourite hero "what could possibly go wrong?"
So this was a Regional Wines tasting focussing on Tamdhu, a distillery I've come to like more over the years, which can probably be traced back to Neil...
Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 76
- N: nutmeg, marmalade, wood, balsa, PVA, perfume, syrup, sherry
- P: caramel, spicy, smooth, juicy, vanilla
- F: long, dry, raisins
I was a fan of the A'Bunadh thanks to Regional, we had a couple of early releases (6, 9?) and I've had a few bottles over the years 6, 10, mid teens, and a mid thirties. And the quality has definitely decreased. It used to be our benchmark for tasting, so was great to see the quality has come back. I gave this 8, and would happily have a bottle in the cupboard as a benchmark for sherry monsters. It came 2nd, with 9.33
Glenfarclas 105 60% (current release)
- N: pineapple, acetone, fruit salad, sweet, sulphur, dusty shelf
- P: prickly, sap, caramel, green apple, light
- F: med long, integrated, dry
8/10 for me, but came 7th with an average of 8.14. It's used to be a go-to for me, but again had dipped, great to see it getting better again.
Tamdhu Batch Strength #6 56.8%
- N: lighter, pineapples, sweetness, meths, coconut, salty caramel, hint of citrus
- P: fruit salad, sweet, sour, metallic, boysenberries
- F: med tannin, sour
7.5/10 - this did not do well with the group coming last (8th) although still a respectable score of 7.94.
Tamdhu Batch Strength #3 58.3%
- N: sherry, rum, sweet, acetone, sour, molasses
- P: sherry, chocolate, raisins, thick, spicy, cinnamon,
- F: long, chocolate
8.5/10 Came 4th with 8.98
Tamdhu Batch Strength #4 57.8%
- N: very sweet, fruity, pears, sour, musty, peaches, mushrooms, coffee
- P: citrus, dry, creme brulee, woody, pepper,
- F: long, dry, pepper, heat builds
8.5-9 /10 I like this a lot. Interesting and complex. Didn't go so well with others coming 6th with 8.53
Tamdhu Batch Strength #5 59.8%
- N: sweet, high alc., sour, tobacco, ginger nuts, treacle, dry, woody
- P: sour, sick, fruit salad, oak, bourbon
- F: med
6.5/10 this one was pretty bland for me, although it did well coming 3rd with 9.0
Tamdhu Batch Strength #7 57.5%
- N: apple, pear, caramel, fruit, citrus, sea salt
- P: sulphur, parma violets, sherry, very sweet, coconut
- F: med-long
8/10 and came 5th with 8.84
Glenfarclas 105 60% (c. 2006 release)
- N: strong, high alc., sherry, musty, molasses, green apple, vinegar, calvados.
- P: musty, dry, tasty
- F: long, dry,
8/10 didn't seem to make a huge impression on me, although everyone else rated it as it came 1st (9.43). I used to like 105, and have an older bottle sitting in my cabinet....
So although I appear a bit disparaging about some of these, it's worth looking at what they scored by the group - they were all good whiskies. with the 'worst' whisky coming in at 7.94 (Tamdhu #6) it's a pretty good indication that was a good tasting.
