Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 43%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon first fill and ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Addional coloring: No
Owner: Picard Vins et Spiriteux
Average price: € 110.00
Official website: www.tullibardine.com
Added to the Tullibardine core range at the end of 2023, this whisky is the result of vatting first-fill ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry casks, joining the other 15, 20 and 25-year-old expressions.
The box features an illustration by Scottish artist Bryan Angus depicting scenes from the distillery’s life.
Tasting Notes
A nose of fresh sweetness, in which the sherried part outlines tart and pungent laces (currants, gooseberries, wild strawberries, pink grapefruit) on a composition dominated by white fruit (peach, apricot, apple, Abate pear) and pastries (icing sugar, marzipan, candied orange, vanilla). The sweet notes quickly lead to apple strudel, including spices, with a rather marked vegetal note of aloe in the background. Classic and lacking in bite.
The palate is quite dense and dominated by vegetal and bitter notes, with hints of rhubarb, liquorice root and nuts (walnuts, bitter almonds) punctuating the sweet aspects, which are clearly in the minority, also subjugated by rather lively spices (ginger, chilli pepper, black pepper). In no particular order, cotton candy, marzipan, candied orange and a hint of coffee with cocoa lie in the background.
The finish is quite long and bitter, with spices, nuts, vegetal notes and sugar glaze.
Reviews: Considering its age, it was reasonable to expect much more than the younger ageing, but instead I find it more or less at the same level: unexpressive, clumsy and uninteresting. Pity.
Vote: 82/100