Tamnavulin 12 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

A yellow band and a discontinued label that still hold on to Tamnavulin's classic Speyside sweetness. A fragment of the distillery's design history that no longer sits on the shelf.

Please note: this is a discontinued label version with a yellow band, no longer produced by the distillery.

Expert description

Tamnavulin 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

This bottling carries the older yellow band that Tamnavulin used before the distillery modernised its label design. Tamnavulin sits on the River Livet in Speyside and is now owned by Whyte & Mackay, part of the Philippine Emperador group. The distillery was founded in 1966 and is known for a soft, approachable style that has historically also served as a backbone in several well-known blends.

The 12 Year Old has for many years been a fixture in Tamnavulin's range, matured in standard oak casks with no additional finish. With its yellow band, this bottle belongs to an earlier chapter of the distillery's history, before the current core range of sherry, port and wine-cask finishes took over the shelves.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and ripe apple mingle with a hint of vanilla biscuit and a touch of dried citrus peel.

Palate

Soft malt and caramel with a light nutty body that glides across the palate without sharp edges.

Finish

Short to medium, closing on a gentle honeyed sweetness with a whisper of oak.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin 12 Year Old
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN nr.: 5011311024901

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Soft · Malty · Light nutty · Approachable

Investment potential

Medium. The discontinued yellow-band label makes this bottle interesting to collectors documenting Tamnavulin's label history, as this version is no longer produced.

Did you know?

Tamnavulin roughly means "mill on the hill" in Gaelic, a nod to the old woollen mill that stood on the site before the distillery was built in 1966.

See our full range of Tamnavulin

Frequently asked questions about Tamnavulin 12 Year Old

What does the yellow band on this bottle mean?

The yellow band is an older label version that Tamnavulin used before the current packaging was introduced. The whisky inside the bottle is still the same 12 Year Old Speyside single malt. It is the label design itself that marks this as a discontinued version.

Where is Tamnavulin distillery located?

The distillery sits on the River Livet in Speyside, in the village of Tomnavoulin in Banffshire. It was founded in 1966, making it one of Speyside's younger distilleries compared with neighbours like Tamdhu and Glenlivet. The name is Gaelic for roughly "mill on the hill".

Who owns Tamnavulin today?

The distillery is owned by Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay, itself part of the Philippine spirits group Emperador. Tamnavulin supplies both its own core range and blends. The ownership has not changed the spirit's fundamentally soft Speyside character.

Why is the 12 Year Old no longer part of the standard range?

Over the years Tamnavulin has reshaped its core range to focus more heavily on finished expressions such as Double Cask, Sherry Cask and various wine-cask series. The classic 12 Year Old on plain oak casks has consequently made way for these newer releases. This bottle is a leftover from the previous range structure.

Is a discontinued version like this worth collecting?

Yes, discontinued label versions often attract collectors keen to document a distillery's design history over time. Since the bottle is no longer produced, only the stock already in circulation exists. That makes it a small piece of Tamnavulin history rather than an everyday shelf item.

How does Tamnavulin 12 Year Old compare in taste with the distillery's newer releases?

The 12 Year Old is cleaner and more malt-forward, without the extra sweetness that wine and sherry finishes bring to newer releases like Double Cask or Sherry Cask Edition. It comes across as simpler and more classically Speyside in style. That makes it a useful reference point for how the spirit tastes without a finish.

At what temperature should this whisky be enjoyed?

Room temperature best brings out the honey and apple notes on the nose. A standard whisky glass or tulip glass is preferable to a wide tumbler. Ice cubes are best avoided, as they mute the gentle sweetness.