🥃 Tamdhu
Distillery and single malt whisky brand in Knockando (Speyside), built in 1897; sherry casks; owned by Ian Macleod Distillers since 2011.
Tamdhu is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Knockando, Speyside. A group of blenders built it in 1897, and since 2011 it has been owned by Ian Macleod Distillers. The name comes from Gaelic and means ‘little dark hill’; today Tamdhu is best known as a sherry-cask single malt.
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 the distillery 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 per year. There are nine wooden washbacks of 53,500 litres and several stills, although sources differ on their number. Water is drawn from a spring or well. 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 this matters to you. The ‘sherry cask’ mark refers to maturation, not to the composition. The age on the label refers to 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 it true that Tamdhu was closed for a long time?
Yes. From 1927 it stood idle for about twenty years, and after Edrington’s mothballing in 2009–2010 it started again in 2012.
Who owns Tamdhu?
Ian Macleod Distillers, since 2011; previously Highland Distillers and Edrington.
What does the name Tamdhu mean?
From Gaelic: ‘little dark hill’.
What casks does Tamdhu mature in?
Mainly in casks that previously held oloroso sherry; Ian Macleod also releases 100% sherry-cask versions.
When did the first official 10-year-old appear?
In 2013, a 100% sherry-cask whisky, according to Whiskypedia.
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 barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 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)