Tamdhu 42yo (43.8%, Dewar Rattray for Calgary Co-op, Hogs Head C#6, 95 Bts., D01/’67 B03/’09)

A single cask bottling exclusively for the Calgary (Alberta, Canada) C0- op Liquor Stores and it has been reported that the lady purchaser who originally nosed the cask sample took all of 5 seconds to buy the entire cask; “sniff…I’ll take it”.

On the sniff there is sweet butter, honey, tropical fruit, toffee, vanilla, very slight hints of bourbon, sweet wine and wood notes all in perfect harmony; this is simply outstanding on the nose. Additionally it is a very similar aroma to many older Speyside single malts that have been matured in ex bourbon casks for a very long period, Glen Grant, Glenfarclas, Strathisla to name a few and a nose that always seems ‘antique’. There is also a stunning layer of malt dust hovering in the background which is exceptional. The taste is strong at first and slightly fizzy in the mouth and then bam!,  the flavours are revealed and are a perfect continuation of the aromas, but slightly less sweet and more assertive and happily not overly oaked which is a pleasant surprise after so long in the cask.  The finish is gentle at first and then there is some oak, butter, sweetness (honey, vanilla and the tropical fruit), tropical fruits and then it becomes dry and sweet and finally some malt appears followed in quick succession by some dry oak. The finish is quite long and warming.

Delicious and well worth the C$299 (if this were an Official Bottling by the distiller it would run about $2,000 (perhaps)).

Score 90 points

http://www.adrattray.com/