A little trio of Tullibardine


January 25, 2024

A little trio
of Tullibardine

We do enjoy tasting Tullibardine. And ras el hanout.

Tullibardine 18 yo 2005/2023 (43%, OB, bourbon and sherry)

I'm afraid I've never tasted an official 18-year-old Tullibardine. This baby, already of a good age, has aged in bourbon and sherry casks, and it seems no improbable finishing has been imposed on it. Colour: golden. Nose: it's quite special and that's precisely what we like about Tullibardine. For example, this wet chalk mixed with notes of rennet, soluble aspirin, linseed oil, soda (just a little), then vanilla and coconut milk, probably from the bourbon casks. A little bit of butter too. Unusual nose, very nice. Mouth: starts with coffee, resins, and herbs, more orange peel. It then becomes more and more herbaceous, marked by pine needles, bay leaf, green pepper, then green walnut and ginger. Bitter oranges and a lasting fermentative side. Finish: there's a very dry Madeira side, I find. Quite long, with the green nuts very present as a signature. Comments: a very distinctive malt, quite austere, whose differences I quite like. But it might not be for the neighbours. I mean, you see what I mean.
SGP:361 - 82 points.

Tullibardine 9 yo 2013/2023 (46%, Murray McDavid, Benchmark, 1st-fill Koval four-grain finish, 1220 bottles)

There are quite a few old casks from Koval used in the Scottish business to give a kick to some scotch whiskies. Colour: white wine. Nose: it's rather the slightly metallic and mustardy side that stands out first, then damp earth, again wet chalk, bay leaf, some vegetables (aubergines), and ginger, sweet pepper, and nutmeg. It's probably not immensely different from the 18-year-old official on the nose. Mouth: same comment, but there are more wood spices, cumin, ginseng, toasted wood, a bit of bitter orange marmalade, pepper... Finish: long, spicy, herbaceous. Ras el hanout, green curry, green pepper… Vanilla and peppermint in the final finale. Comments: not the easiest malt, but like the official, it offers particular and very interesting rough edges.
SGP:361 - 80 points.

Tullibardine 8 yo 2015/2023 (57.1%, Signatory Vintage, 100 Proof, 1st fill oloroso butt)

A December release and an amusing series at '100 proof', so the old way. On old releases, '100 proof' could mean 56.9% as well as 57% or 57.1% as here, but we tend to believe Signatory. Of course, these are British proofs, not US. As you know, in the US, 100 proof is 50% vol., not +/-57. But enough chatter… Colour: dark gold. Nose: yes indeed, the 1st fill sherry magician wins, with nut cake, roasted pistachios and then a bit of whey and a pleasantly 'chemical' side. But that's the distillate, rather on, let's say new rubber boots (size 45 and up). With water: we go onto ferns and mosses, with a little gunpowder and that metallic side. It's like being on a big game hunt in a Scottish forest. Mouth (neat): honey, pepper, rubber, and mustard, how amusing! And at 100 proof, it really sweeps clean. With water: here comes the pine sap again, mosses, bitter oranges, and new rubber touches. Also some fresh nuts from the sherry and maybe one little sultana, no more. Finish: long, with forest-like flavours, let's say. Mustard and honey come back at the very end. Comments: a nice little herbaceous creature, perhaps for your flask when you go hunting (for deer or troubles). PS: we do not hunt.
SGP:361 - 85 points.

Check the index of all Tullibardine we've tasted so far

		Ras el hanout
		Ras el hanout is a blend of spices from North Africa, particularly associated with Moroccan cuisine. The name translates to 'head of the spice store' in Arabic, implying that it's made of the best spices available. The composition of ras el hanout can vary significantly, often containing over a dozen spices such as coriander, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon or nutmeg. Some friends in Morocco call it 'the best spice mix for the worst cooks', meaning that you cannot mess up any recipe when using ras el hanout. In spirits, finding ras el hanout is pretty common when some young whiskies, for example, have been matured for a short time or finished in very active, often new-oak casks or STR (mainly European oak)..