Tamnavulin Distillery 2010 Little Brown Dog Port Pipe Single Speyside Malt Whisky 52,4%

Fourteen years on bourbon casks and one last, active push through a port pipe. Little Brown Dog has found a Tamnavulin cask that insists on tasting of dark berries and warm spice.

Expert description

Tamnavulin Distillery 2010 Little Brown Dog Port Pipe is a Single Speyside Scotch Whisky, matured in bourbon casks with a finishing period in a port pipe and bottled at 52.4%.

Little Brown Dog Spirits is an independent bottler founded in Aberdeenshire in 2018 by Andrew Smith and Chris Reid, recognisable by the little brown dog that features on every label. The company buys casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottles them under its own name, often in small, hand-picked batches.

This release was distilled at Tamnavulin in 2010 and matured on bourbon casks until 2024, when the whisky was moved into a highly active port pipe. That short but intense finishing period has given the whisky a pronounced character of dark berries and spice. Only 424 bottles were produced of this Small Batch release, bottled at cask strength with no chill-filtration.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark cherry and blackberry meet a warm note of clove and a hint of freshly baked bun.

Palate

Full-bodied and berry-driven, with notes of blackcurrant jelly, dark chocolate and a peppery spice streak from the cask strength.

Finish

Long and winey, closing on dried raspberry and a warm, lightly toasted sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin Distillery Little Brown Dog Port Pipe
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Bottler: Little Brown Dog Spirits
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Scotch Whisky
Age: 2010/2024
ABV: 52.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, finished in active port pipe
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 424
Edition: Small Batch

Flavour profile

Berry-driven · Spiced · Full-bodied · Dark chocolate · Winey

Did you know?

Little Brown Dog Spirits took its name and logo from a small brown dog, a personal symbol for founders Andrew Smith and Chris Reid, both with backgrounds in the Scottish spirits trade before starting their own independent bottling house in Aberdeenshire in 2018.

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Frequently asked questions about Tamnavulin Little Brown Dog Port Pipe

Who is Little Brown Dog Spirits?

Little Brown Dog Spirits is an independent bottler founded in Aberdeenshire in 2018 by Andrew Smith and Chris Reid. The name and logo featuring a small brown dog are the company's personal trademark. They source casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottle them in small, hand-picked batches under their own brand.

What does it mean that the port pipe was "highly active"?

An active cask gives up colour and flavour to the whisky relatively quickly, often because the wood is still rich in tannins and residual port. That means even a shorter finishing period can produce a pronounced, distinct port character. It shows clearly here in the whisky's deep colour and berry-driven, spiced notes.

What is the difference between a port pipe and a standard port cask?

A pipe is the traditional cask size used for port, typically holding around 550-650 litres, larger than a standard hogshead or butt. The larger size changes the balance between whisky volume and wood surface during maturation. That contributes to a different maturation dynamic than smaller port casks.

Why are there only 424 bottles of this release?

The number reflects how much whisky was available from this specific cask after both primary maturation and finishing. As a Small Batch release from an independent bottler, the run is deliberately limited and not sold in large volumes. That makes the bottle a fairly rare representation of Tamnavulin under an independent label.

How does this whisky compare with Tamnavulin's own port releases?

Tamnavulin's own core range includes a Port Cask release bottled at 40%, while this Little Brown Dog expression is bottled at cask strength of 52.4%. The higher strength combined with the active cask produces a more intense, concentrated port character than the distillery's own version.

How should this whisky be served for the best experience?

At room temperature in a tulip glass, ideally with a few drops of water to tame the cask strength slightly and open up the berry notes. Avoid serving it too cold, as this closes down the spiced, winey aromas. Give the whisky a few minutes in the glass before tasting.