Tamnavulin Distillery
Tomnavoulin, Moray
History: In Scotch whisky terms this a relative newcomer when it comes to a single malt distillery, although it is still over 50 years old. It is located in the shadow of the Cairngorm mountain range in the tiny village of Tomnavoulin, home to around 40 residents and Tamnavulin Distillery itself. The distillery is located right in the heart of the Speyside whisky region and home to over half of Scotland’s single malt whisky distilleries. The distillery was opened for one purpose – to create single malt whisky to be used in blended whisky such as Whyte & Mackay. This doesn't mean that it is an inferior whisky, it is actually quite the opposite and many of the blended whisky makers want to get their hands on Tamnavulin for their recipes. The distillery has like many other distilleries been through some hard times, the doors were closed in 1995 and then reopened in 2007 after a major refurbishment. Since then, they have focused on crafting exceptional single malt whisky with true Speyside character – rich, smooth and mellow.
The whisky: There have been many independent bottling over the years from the distillery. It is a classic Speyside single malt when it comes to flavour profile. I believe there is more to come from the distillery so keep you eyes peeled for future bottlings. There is a bit of a cult following for this whisky and personally I am excited to see what is comes next from the distillery.
Favourite dram: In 2016 this Speyside distillery launched its first single malt in over 20 years in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The Tamnavulin Double Cask, a no-age-statement single malt, was matured in American oak casks and finished in Sherry butts and retails at the affordable cost of £32 per bottle. It is a test dram if you can get your hands on it with notes of dried orange, ginger and wood spice.
Geek alert: During the 19th century, the term "Glenlivet" was used to describe the whiskies that came from the Speyside region. Many distilleries took on the name of Glenlivet but there was actually only one distillery in the glen of the River Livet – The Glenlivet. Tamnavulin was the second.
Why visit?: Up until the 1990s there was a visitor centre housed in an old carding mill. The mill is over 100 years old and not like the rest of this modern distillery. The scenery is stunning sitting right next to the banks of the River Livet, which is a famous in whisky folklore. The distillery is no longer open to the public but I have heard rumours of it possibly opening its doors to its fans once more.
Interesting fact: The name Tamnavulin is the Gaelic translation of "mill on the hill", named in part after the historic former carding mill which sits on the site of the distillery. Local farmers would bring their sheep fleeces here in the summer months to be made into wool.
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