Cadenhead Tamdhu-Glenlivet 2013 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cadenhead Tamdhu-Glenlivet 2013 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a Speyside single malt from Scotland's oldest independent bottler: distilled in 2013, matured 12 years in refill Oloroso sherry hogsheads, and bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV) in a 700mL bottle — non-chill filtered, natural colour — and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
Tamdhu is one of the last distilleries to malt its own barley on-site in traditional Saladin boxes, and it is famous for sherry-cask maturation. Cadenhead's 2013 vintage spent twelve years in refill Oloroso hogsheads — a small-batch release across plural casks — delivering the distillery's signature rich, nutty, chocolate-and-dried-fruit character at an honest 46%.
Tasting notes (independent review of this exact bottling): the nose shows dulce de leche, soft caramel, raspberry sorbet, and baked pear; the palate brings blueberry, crystallised ginger, and an oily, weighty mouthfeel with a savoury rye-bread edge; the finish offers mandarin, vanilla, and lemongrass. A second review (8.3/10) adds copper coins, clementines, orange zest, cloves, nutmeg, cocoa powder, chocolate truffles, and dark caramel.
Why buy it? Because sherried Tamdhu is one of Speyside's great value styles — distillery sherry-cask releases cost far more — and Cadenhead's refill-hogshead profile shows the malt with unusual clarity. Browse the WM Cadenhead collection, more single malt Scotch whisky, and other fine spirits.
Serving note: neat in a tulip glass; sherry-cask Tamdhu needs no water, though a drop won't hurt.
Where is Tamdhu distillery? In Speyside, Scotland, near the village of Knockando.
What casks were used? Refill Oloroso sherry hogsheads.
How strong is it? 92 proof (46% ABV), 700mL.
Is this a single cask? No — it is a small-batch Original Collection release matured across multiple Oloroso hogsheads.