Tamdhu was founded in 1897 on the banks of the River Spey by a group of whisky merchants and blenders. They commissioned Charles Doig to design a modern distillery with its own railway connection. Barley, coal and casks could be transported efficiently through the nearby Dalbeallie station. Sherry casks were already arriving from Spain during the early years, laying the foundations for the style that would later become closely associated with Tamdhu.

The distillery soon became part of Highland Distillers and for many years mainly supplied malt whisky for blends such as The Famous Grouse. Tamdhu experienced several periods of silence and was closed again in 2010. Ian Macleod Distillers acquired the distillery and its stocks in 2011, returning Tamdhu to the market as a single malt brand in its own right.

Tamdhu is dedicated entirely to maturation in oloroso sherry-seasoned casks made from European and American oak. This creates a rich Speyside style with dried fruit, orange, nuts, vanilla, spice and darker oak notes. The combination of fruity spirit and expressive sherry cask maturation makes Tamdhu especially popular among enthusiasts of classic single malt whisky.