A wee heterogeneous yet humorous duo


January 11, 2023

A wee heterogeneous yet humorous duo

We never do this but you see, these two came in just the next day after we had tried some Tamdhus and some Glentauchers, both names that we may well try again only in six or twelve months or more. Not that this is a sag-wagon session…

Tamdhu 14 yo 2008/2022 (60.8%, Cut Your Wolf Loose, hogshead, cask #2331, 190 bottles)

Glentauchers 13 yo 2009/2022 (53.7%, Buds & Barrels, refill sherry butt, 146 bottles)

Buds & Barrels is a retailer and bottler in the city of Hoogstraten in Belgium. As always with the Belgians, there's a slight sense of humour behind this bottling, which we couldn't dislike! But I suppose there's barely a barrel involved here… And remember, Glentauchers is supposed to be a lighter Speysider… Colour: light gold. Nose: …and very light sherry, the glory of good refill. Think sweet bread drizzled with limoncello and dipped into chalk, or something like that. Once more, we're in Burgundian chardonnay territory, perhaps in Chablis? A rather lovely yeastiness too, but that's the bread. With water: perfect chalk, lemon and fresh bread, small touch of mango, banana and a pinhead of cough syrup. Mouth: starts more honeyed, with touches of pacherenc rather than young Chablis, that is to say something just as tight, only a little more aromatic. Say tangerines rather than lemons. The honeyed notes bring perfect balance, a few sultanas follow suit. With water: those juicy golden sultanas grew bigger, as if water unleashed the (still very quiet) sherry. Finish: medium, back on Chablis. Some ripe peaches in the aftertaste. Comments: pretty perfect for its age, this little Friends & Firkins. I mean, Buds & Barrels. Close to 88 in my book.
SGP:641 - 87 points.

And so the Tamdhu…

Tamdhu 14 yo 2008/2022 (60.8%, Cut Your Wolf Loose, hogshead, cask #2331, 190 bottles)Tamdhu 14 yo 2008/2022 (60.8%, Cut Your Wolf Loose, hogshead, cask #2331, 190 bottles)

Tamdhu 14 yo 2008/2022 (60.8%, Cut Your Wolf Loose, hogshead, cask #2331, 190 bottles)

Fun stuff, as I understand it they also add art prints and small happenings to their bottlings. The label has been done by Dutch artist NOL. Colour: amber. Nose: unless I'm wrong once more, it's a hogshead that's been sheltering some sherry, as joyful raisins seem to be roaming your tasting glass in a rather Brownian way. There are also a few floral tones, some raisin rolls and other pastry, some Mars, Twixes and Snickers, roasted peanuts, marmalade… With water: a few wood shavings, also moss and mushrooms (porcini carpaccio!) and something a little musty, dunnage, old wine casks in a corner… And walnut wine! Mouth: dried figs and dates, fruitcake, raisins of all kinds, some small flintiness, some ginger, and some hotness but it's is not burning at 60.8%. Rather a leafy and earthy sherry in the end, but wait… With water: marmalade, ginger and walnuts are having the upper hand now. Finish: long and, this time, pretty peppery. Comments: I often find these babies 'a trifle rustic' and this is no exception. Rather a notch higher than most official 'Batch Strength' expressions, though. Let's dig out our hipflasks!
SGP:652 - 86 points.