Tamdhu Debuts Super Fancy 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch

Scotland’s Tamdhu distillery is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. Located in the Speyside whisky region, it was back in 1897 that whisky making operations took off here, with the occasional dormant production period thrown in throughout its history. Tamdhu was acquired by Ian MacLeod Distillers back in 2011, and these days produces single malt expressions. In honor of all of this, it has been announced that a 50-year-old, single cask offering is coming to market with those who have deep pockets to afford its steep price tag.

The new Tamdhu 50-Year-Old, according to the distillery, was aged in a first fill, European sherry butt for 50 years, with just 100 bottles being produced for this global release. It was bottled at 55.6% ABV and enclosed in a special decanter designed by a team of British craftsmen and women including glass designer Katy Holford, crystal experts Royal Brierley and the silversmiths at  luxury jewellery house Hamilton & Inches.

“120 years of expertise and 50 years of maturation in an extraordinary sherry oak cask have gone into making Tamdhu 50 Year Old, and we are delighted to be able to share it with the world,” said Leonard Russell, Managing Director of Ian Macleod Distillers, in a prepared statement. “What makes this whisky really special to us is that it represents the rebirth of the distillery. There was a time, before we bought and reopened Tamdhu, when some thought it was gone forever. This cask, which may never have been released had the distillery remained closed, can be now enjoyed and savoured, and that is something we want to celebrate.”

Plans call for this whisky, sheltered inside a solid stained oak cannister adorned with Hamilton & Inches hallmarked sterling silver, to price at £16,000, or close to $20,000 USD, when it goes on sale. Official tasting notes for it are found below from Tamdhu.

Nose: Forest fruits, elegant oak, and orange depths with underlying rosehip, dark chocolate & marzipan

Palate: Cloves, licorice, espresso and baked apples, along with banana, black pepper & roasted almonds

Finish: Ginger, coca, walnuts and maple syrup.