Final of the three Tamdhu tasters, and obviously most expensive, at 138GBP per bottle.
It’s very smooth, sweet, adds alot of numbness in the mouth, but no warmth in the throat. Warmth in the belly comes long after.
Is it worth extra 40GBP on top of Tamdhu 15? I’d say it depends. If you already have Tamdhu 15, probably not. But if it’s the only Tamdhu you plan to get for a while, then I’d say yes, although it is a stretch for sure.
I already wrote about Tamdhu 12, as I got it from Advent Calendar last year, and I think it was great for its price. Now I got myself a taster of Tamdhu 12, 15 and 18. I still stand that Tamdhu 12 is great. But Tamdhu 15 is even better. Which is not always the case, mind you.
It is sweet, smooth, and leaves nice warmth not only in the throat, but also in the belly. With some liteheadiness on top.
Is it worth twice the price of Tamdhu 12? For the moment I think yes.
24th and last bottle of my 2024 calendar. Took me exactly a year to finish it.
This one is interesting, as I completely missed the mark. It’s nice, a bit sweet, a bit smoky, not too warm. I placed it in 50GBP cathegory.
Turns out, this is the most expensive taster I think in the entire calendar: 114GBP at minimum, up to 150GBP:
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/eden-mill/eden-mill-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2022-release-art-of-st-andrews-collection-whisky/
All I can say, this isn’t the first 150GBP+ bottle that didn’t impress me.
22nd whiskey from the calendar was Glasgow 1770. It is a bit sweet, a bit warm, but nothing spectacular, and honestly, for 40GBP it goes for, I wouldn’t expect anything spectacular either.
Deanston 12 was a nice surprise, though. Sweet, warm, and for 43GBP, hits well above its weight. This is interesting, as I found Deanston Virgin Oak to be absolutely the worst.
This year I decided to go with World Whisky Advent Calendar from Drinks by the Dram:
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/drinks-by-the-dram/world-whisky-classic-advent-calendar/
From the outlook, it has some interesting whiskeys to try, such as Israeli and Japanese ones:
20th whiskey in the calendar was Bunnahabhain 12, which I know pretty well, it’s a very solid Scotch whiskey, but not one of my favorites.
So we jump straight to Tamdhu 12 Years Old. It is light and smooth to the point I would think it’s a blend, with a very sweet fruity taste. One of the more pleasant whiskeys from the calendar. I had to check that it is matured in Oloroso Sherry casks, because the colour is quite light. At 45GBP, it’s a bargain. Would definitely like to try the 15 years or Cask Strength of this one.
Highland Park is a household name, but I don’t remember ever trying their whiskey.
It’s a typical Scotch whiskey, I would say, a bit smokey, a bit sweet, maybe warmer than usual, but nothing above its price.
18th taster from the advent calendar. For me, Chivas is something you drink at weddings because there is only that and Johnny Walker Red. This isn’t much different. Yes, it is smooth, as expected from a blended scotch, and it has some sweetness and smokiness, but not much it terms of warmth. Not something I’d buy.
17th bottle from the Advent Calendar. I thought that I tried another Balvenie already, and I was right. It was the Balvenie 12 Year Old Double Cask. This one is what I’d call “supermarket grade whiskey”. It’s rather smooth for a Scotch, with plenty of sweetness and some warmth. A decent whiskey for sure. But for 63GBP, there are much better options, in my opinion.
16th bottle from the Advent Calendar.
I love Sherry Casks. But at first I was warry of this one, because the smell was very sharp and alcoholic, despite just 45%. Must admit though, the taste is very sweet, and it makes your head light as if it was all 60%. For 45GBP, it’s a no-brainer, and probably one of the best whiskeys from the calendar yet.
15th taster from the Advent Calendar. All I can say, it’s a whiskey. It’s not particularly good or bad, in my opinion, maybe has a bit longer aftertaste and warmth than most, but nothing that would amaze me.
The 13th taster was a Bruichladdich 12, which I know by now, so I’ll jump to 14th, “Wemyss Spice King batch strength” instead. The key component here is “batch strength”. I’m not a fan of blended whiskeys, because, well, it’s easy to hide imperfections when you blend everything together. But this one is indeed tasty and spicy. Not something I would probably buy for myself, but interesting nevertheless.
12th whiskey from the Advent Calendar. At that pace, I may keep it until the next Christmas.
It’s a proper 18 year old whiskey for sure. Has the kick, has the taste, has the warmth. Maybe not 83GBP they ask usually, but for 72GBP, a good bargain.
At first I wasn’t impressed by the sharp taste, despite some floran afternotes. But it does give a nice lightheadiness, that may convince me to explore if not the 12, but the 16 year old ones.
10th whiskey from the Advent Calendar.
For its price, it is a very good whiskey. Sweet, if a bit sharp around the edges. With a bit of warmth.
9th bottle from my Advent Calendar, this one is absolutely disgusting. Yes, they sell this stuff that smells like alcohol and tastes just a tad better for 33GBP. But then you could grab heavenly Aberlour for the same price sometimes. So this is just an offence to any whiskey lover, really.
8th whiskey from the Advent Calendar.
Nothing to write home about, as would be expected from a whiskey that is sold in the supermarkets and has a stag on it.
It is the most tart whiskey I can remember, though. And it has some interesting spicy aftertaste.
But defintely wouldn’t buy it for myself.
7th bottle from the Advent Calendar, and so far probably the best yet.
It has almost no smell, pleasant or otherwise, but hits you with a warmth, quiets the head, and is quite sweet.
5th in the Advent Calendar was Glenfiddich 18. Once I had a whole bottle of it. I don’t consider it a good whiskey. My opinion didn’t change after this taster.
To the Old Pulteney 15 Year Old now. It’s excellent. Surprisingly sweet, a bit sharp for my taste, but leaves with an excellent warmth. At 73GBP per bottle, it’s a bargain.
4th taster from the Advent Calendar.
Some people describe it as easy, and I’d agree. It is not overpowering, just slightly malty, you don’t feel the 43%, but it numbs the mouth nicely. For 45GBP, you can’t wish for much more.