A Scot on Scotch

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Dràm Mòr

A Scot on Scotch is currently working through some enticing samples from the excellent independent bottler, Dràm Mòr. Based in Dumbarton, husband and wife, Kenny and Viktorija Macdonald launched Dràm Mòr in 2020 and the pair have successfully established their business as one of the most exciting indie bottlers around.

I’ve already tasted interesting drams from Aberfeldy and Tomintoul but this time my attention shifts to the well-known Speyside distillery, Tamdhu.

*Full disclosure: the whisky featured in this review was sent to me free of charge. As always, I will strive to give an honest opinion on the quality of the dram and the value for money it represents.

Dràm Mòr Tamdhu Review

Tamdhu was established in 1896 but it wasn’t long before it was taken over by Highland Distillers – which later became Edrington. The distillery was closed in 2010 but brought back to life when it was taken over by Ian Macleod Distillers a year later.

Tamdhu’s single malt is known for its suitability for sherry cask maturation and here, Dràm Mòr has bottled an 8-year-old single cask that was finished in a first-fill Pedro Ximenez sherry cask.

Tasting notes: The sherry dominates the nose with typical dried fruits and leather notes but I also found a slight off-note. It was slightly acidic and even a wee bit cheesy. Fortunately, it wasn’t too powerful and seemed to lift with time in the glass. There are also far more appealing aromas on show like caramel, chocolate honeycomb and biscuit. The palate, meanwhile, showcases Dime Bars, raisins, dark chocolate, prunes and liquorice with a dry, oaky finish. Honey and malt lie underneath the finish and there’s a smattering of black pepper spice throughout.

Thoughts: This Tamdhu is a bold and interesting dram with plenty of sherry influence. The PX finish is prominent but there’s more at play and you can find the distillery character if you look for it. There may be some funky stuff going on with the nose but it’s not too strong and doesn’t come through on the palate. There’s also a dryness to the finish, which is something that can put me off when it goes too far but fortunately, it doesn’t. Delivers what you expect from a single cask Tamdhu but with a few wee quirks that keep things interesting.

Price: £80. A solid offering with a fairly standard price point for a single cask.

For more about Dràm Mòr visit here

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