The Tamnavulin distillery opened in 1966 at the tail end of the post-war whisky boom. During those hallowed days, advances in distilling technologies and growing demand led to new distillery construction, refurbishment of existing facilities, and large expansions of older 19th century operations. Already the grain whisky industry was undergoing a Whisky Loch, but the malt whiskies were still flying high.

I picked up this sample while visiting Springbank and Cadenhead’s in Campbeltown.  Tamnavulin was one of three active, not new wave, distilleries I had never tried and I planned for this to be my first once I got home. However, that ended up being an AD Rattray cask bottled for Shinanoya that a friend brought and shared shortly after we returned. But here we are, finally getting around to reviewing this pour!

---

Whisky: Tamnavulin 26 Year (1992), Cadenhead’s

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 51.3%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 26 Years (Distilled 1992, Bottled Sept. 2018)

Notes: Green apples and instant lemonade mix carried me to green guavas, green apple bananas, plantains, and modeling clay. Fruity and slightly earthy with an unripened and tropical quality that slowly turned in slightly starchy direction with creamy overripe breadfruit and fry bread that has been tossed in powdered sugar and drizzled with honey. Medium to light-bodied and oily on the palate, the flavors were sweeter and fruitier with more of the typical pears, green apples, and apple bananas. Fried dough and pastries never quite hit the density of fry bread, but provided some malty structure in the background. Hints of guava, pandan, and modeling clay arrived late for a tropical and earthy turn. The finish was long and mellow with guava hard candies, powdered sugar, and a kiss of pandan.

---

Score: 7 (85)

Mental Image: Tropical Market Flaneurs

Conclusion: Old and mellow, this had all the hallmarks of a well-aged Speyside with enough diversions to keep it interesting.  The aroma was the real star with a beautiful evolution through various tropical, and a few quite nostalgic, points of interest. On the palate, the whisky felt as though it had a spent a bit too long in the cask, I kept wishing this were a bit heavier and more intense.  It was frustratingly less tropical in profile than it was on the aroma. The finish was gentle and mellow— the sort that leaves you ready for the next sip in short order. Overall, a beautiful whisky, even with a few shortcomings.