100 in the World, SIX for Concierge at Total Wine: 43 Yr Single Malt

TAMDHU 43 YEAR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

SPEYSIDE, SCOTLAND

You want to talk about rare? There are only 100 bottles of Tamdhu 43 Year that exist in the world. 

Let that sink in for a moment: not a few hundred, not a thousand, but a mere hundred decanters containing one of the oldest and most extraordinary single malts this venerable Speyside distillery has ever released.

Through some minor miracle of relationships and timing, we've managed to secure 6 bottles, and are so thrilled to be able to share this discovery with you … and (and here’s the gorgeous cherry on top) at $14,000 … or, $2,000 OFF the distiller’s list price.

While other distillers might finish briefly in sherry casks, Tamdhu commits to full maturation, from beginning to end. This masterpiece developed in not one, not two, but three exceptional Oloroso casks from Spain's “Jerez triangle,” each seasoned for an extravagant 18-24 months: whisky-making at its most demanding and expensive. 

And we simply cannot overlook the superior quality of their water, drawn from Tamdhu's own natural spring.

All of this care and detailing has resulted in off-the-charts richness, clarity, depth, and maturity.

On the nose, those sherry notes intertwine with treacle toffee, dried coriander, and a procession of berries. The palate amplifies these impressions. You get profound sherry depth, but not just sherry depth; there’s a controlled explosion of orange, blackcurrant, and molasses, with chocolate coconut and coffee notes adding a gorgeous roundness. I can still taste the finish, and I last tipped back my glass hours ago.

At cask-strength 50.8% ABV (101.6 proof), it retains remarkable vitality despite its advanced age.

Each individually numbered bottle arrives in a hand-blown crystal Victorian-style decanter housed within a hand-crafted octagonal wooden box with brushed silver accents.

Of even greater note, Tamdhu collaborated with photomicrographer Peter Woitschikowski to create some eye-opening images of the whisky itself. Using a microscope at 43 times magnification (one for each maturation year), these photographs capture crystallized whisky combined with natural extracts inspired by the distiller’s tasting notes. 

Folks, it simply doesn’t get better than this, and for the fortunate few among you, what you are getting is a true heirloom, never to be seen again — the crowning glory of any bar cart.