I tried oldest whisky from Speyside ‘hidden gem' - it's an elegant dram ideal for sherry fans
It's one of my favourite spots to visit when at Spirit of Speyside and the team throws open the doors to the Dalbeallie railway station near the distillery. This year they launched the Tamdhu 21 year old, the oldest expression from the distillery and it's a cracking dram.
Fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks, it's rich in colour and flavour but before getting to that, you can't not admire the wonderfully intricate (and sweet smelling) packaging.
The Tamdhu bottle is presented in a beautiful, Royal green cut-work gift case whose Spanish-Moorish design reflects the Southern Spanish sherry casks used in the maturation process.
The display box, adorned with a metallic Tamdhu monogram, slides off to reveal the inner design case and a slide drawer with a tasting notes booklet. The closure is gold wood, decorated with a gold branded capsule. So far, so fancy but what does the whisky taste like?
The age and sherry maturation would make this an ideal autumn or festive dram but it was still lovely on a warm summer's afternoon when I sampled it.
There's notes of chocolate, spices, fruitcake but a freshness from apple-y notes and a lingering dry finish likely due to its age. It'd make an ideal old fashioned or boulevardier but it's an elegant sipping dram no matter the time of year.
Score: 5/5
Best for: those that love a sherried whisky
Buy it now: It's priced at £299 and you can buy a bottle here.
What do the Tamdhu team say about the whisky?
Sandy McIntyre, Distillery Manager, said: 'Our patience and dedication shines through in every sip of Tamdhu 21YO.
'This latest release is a fine example of our commitment to the Spain-to-Speyside journey that every Tamdhu expression benefits from. Oloroso Sherry Casks from Spain deliver excellence for our whisky and help make this brand, produced in one of the most unspoilt parts of Scotland, uniquely refined in flavour.'
Gordon Dundas, Global Brand Ambassador for Tamdhu and Ian Macleod Distillers' whiskies, said: 'Tamdhu Distillery is located on the banks of the Spey and produces its spirit using its own local spring water.
'This limited 'coming of age' 21-year-old release, like all Tamdhu single malts, is fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks to deliver a flavour profile and entirely natural colour that makes this spirit elegant and distinctive.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Finextra
an hour ago
- Finextra
Santander partners OpenAI to become 'AI-native' bank
Santander has inked a deal with OpenAI, rolling out ChatGPT Enterprise to nearly 15,000 staffers as it bids to become an "AI-native" bank. 0 The Spanish giant is embarking on a "data and AI-first" transformation, according to chief data and AI officer Ricardo Martín Manjón. "We're reimagining Santander's operations, grounding every decision in clean, trusted data, automating customer interactions and infusing every workflow with intelligence," writes Manjón in an article on the bank's site. This means embedding AI across product management, credit, marketing, service, operations and other core functions, putting the technology at the core of Santander's global platforms, and building an AI ecosystem working with the major players such as Open AI, Microsoft and Amazon as well as startups. In just two months, the bank has rolled out ChatGPT Enterprise to nearly 15,000 employees across Europe and the Americas. This is expected to grow to 30,000 users by year-end, covering approximately 15% of the workforce. "Why the urgency? This isn't just about adopting AI, it's about catalysing a shift in culture, productivity and experience," writes Manjón. Early use cases include investment copilots with real-time strategy suggestions, hyper-personalised customer journeys, and AI agents automating back-office processes across all geographies. The effort is already bearing fruit, according to Manjón: in 2024 AI initiatives generated over €200 million in savings. AI copilots now support more than 40% of contact centre interactions. In Spain, Speech Analytics processes 10 million voice calls annually, auto-filling CRM systems to improve customer service and freeing over 100,000 hours annually for higher-value work. Santander is now tailoring AI training across roles and markets to democratise its use and next year will see the launch of a mandatory AI training plan for all employees. Concludes Manjón: "We're not chasing hype. Our roadmap is built on real impact, operational rigor and human empowerment. Our data & AI-first strategy is how we deliver smarter solutions, happier customers and a future-ready bank. "At Santander, we're not just using AI. We're becoming 'AI-native', with the trust, scale and humanity that banking demands."
Edinburgh Live
5 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Marbella 'deserted' as tourists stay away from Costa del Sol hotspot
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Marbella, a renowned holiday destination in southern Spain, has seen a decline in visitor numbers as tourists cut back on lavish holidays, with one nationality noticeably absent. Long ingrained in the British public's mind, Marbella transformed from a humble fishing village on the outskirts of Malaga into a bustling tourist hotspot throughout the 20th century. The Marbella Club Hotel, founded by Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg in 1954, put the location on the map as a must-visit spot for Europe's elite. In recent years, it has become synonymous with celebrity glamour and extravagance, attracting bronzed Instagrammers in droves for Champagne spray parties. Despite remaining a favourite among Brits and Love Island contestants alike, it appears that some are beginning to fall out of love with 'Marbs'. This includes one unfortunate holidaymaker who was denied entry to Towie star Elliott Wright's restaurant due to his footwear. This summer saw a drop in tourist numbers on the Costa del Sol, marking the first decrease since the pandemic began. The downturn has been particularly noticeable in Marbella, where Spanish tourist numbers fell by 34% in June, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), reports the Mirror. In July, the city welcomed 68,630 visitors, which is 8,201 fewer than in 2024. The decline in visitors is wreaking havoc across Marbella's hospitality sector, with business owners left wondering how they'll survive financially. "There are days when we feel like we're not holding our heads in our hands from so much work, and others when the restaurant is empty. It's as if people are more restrained when it comes to going out," Yolanda, a waitress at one of the downtown hospitality establishments, told Sur. A retail worker in Marbella informed the publication that Spanish visitors to the resort are arriving with tighter budgets. They attributed this to "how expensive accommodation has become" alongside inadequate public transport links between Malaga and Marbella - which are situated 40 miles apart along the coastline - for the 10% drop in tourist numbers overall this summer. Despite falling visitor numbers, Marbella is hardly experiencing a ghost town atmosphere. Hotel occupancy has climbed to 80.08 percent, with guests staying an average of 3.95 nights - the highest figure recorded since 2016. Laura De Arce, director of tourism for the City Council, commented: "The city continues to attract a traveler profile that values excellence, exclusivity, and a differentiated offering. This not only translates into high occupancy rates but also into strong profitability, confirming Marbella's leadership in the premium tourism sector in the Mediterranean." Earlier this week, readers of the Mirror voiced their opinions on Spain as a holiday spot and expressed concerns about visiting due to recent high-profile protests against overtourism. "The message we are receiving loud and clear from locals, especially in the islands and where we usually visit in Andalucia, is that we should stay away and are not welcome," one gentleman informed us.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Holidaymakers abandon Marbella as waiters left ‘with heads in their hands'
Tourist numbers have declined on the Costa del Sol this summer, marking the first time since the pandemic that numbers have dropped. The downward dip has been felt particularly keenly in Marbella Visitor numbers are down in Marbella as holidaymakers cut back on expensive breaks, with tourists from one country in particular staying away. Marbella, in the south of Spain, has long been etched into the public consciousness of Brits. Over the course of the 20th century, the once small fishing village on the outskirts of Malaga was transformed into a bustling holiday hotspot. Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg founded the Marbella Club Hotel in 1954, marking the location out as a to-visit destination for Europe's elite. In more recent years, it has become a byword for celeb glamour and excess, with tanned Instagrammers arriving en masse for Champagne spray parties. While the destination remains a firm favourite of Brits in general and Love Island contestants in particular, it seems that some people have started to fall out of love with Marbs. And not just one holidaymaker who was blocked from the restaurant of Towie star Elliott Wright because of his shoes. Tourist numbers have declined on the Costa del Sol this summer, marking the first time since the pandemic that numbers have dropped. The downward dip has been felt particularly keenly in Marbella, where there was a 34% drop in Spanish tourists in June, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). In July, 68,630 people came to visit the city, which is 8,201 fewer than in 2024. The fall in visitors is causing misery through the hospitality sector in Marbella, with business owners wondering how they're going to make ends meet. "There are days when we feel like we're not holding our heads in our hands from so much work, and others when the restaurant is empty. It's as if people are more restrained when it comes to going out," Yolanda, a waitress at one of the downtown hospitality establishments, told Sur. A retailer worker in Marbella told the publication that those Spaniards who are visiting the destination have less money to spend. They blamed "how expensive accommodation has become" as well as a lack of public transport between Malaga and Marbella - which sit 40 miles from one another on the coast - for the 10% dip in tourist numbers overall this summer. While visitor numbers are down, Marbella is far from feeling empty. Hotel occupancy has reached 80.08 percent, with an average stay of 3.95 nights - the highest since 2016. Laura De Arce, director of tourism for the City Council, said: "The city continues to attract a traveler profile that values excellence, exclusivity, and a differentiated offering. This not only translates into high occupancy rates but also into strong profitability, confirming Marbella's leadership in the premium tourism sector in the Mediterranean." Earlier this week, Mirror readers shared their thoughts on Spain as a holiday destination and reservations they had about spending time there following high-profile overtourism protests. "The message we are receiving loud and clear from locals, especially in the islands and where we usually visit in Andalucia, is that we should stay away and are not welcome," one man told us.
