Tullibardine Vintage Edition 40 Years Old 1968

This Tullibardine, an official release, a 40 year old release from 1968, drawn from cask 130 and bottled at 40.3%. The outturn was 252 bottles. Tullibardine, founded in 1949 by William Delme-Evans at Blackford in Perthshire, is known for its wine cask finishes. Picard brought a range of wine cask finishes, named for the size of the cask: the 225 Sauternes, 228 Burgundy and 500 Sherry.

It was worked through the distillery's pot stills, for the soft, honeyed Highland make Tullibardine is known for. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the honeyed fruit lead. At this great age the malt is full and mellow, the honey deep and the oak soft. Long, gentle ageing turns the fresh fruit towards honey and a soft spice. Under French wine ownership the distillery has leaned into its cask finishes. The Murray and Custodian's Collections gather its older and rarer bottlings. Blackford's spring water has drawn brewers and distillers to the village for centuries.

At 40.3% it is gentle, honeyed and fruity. A malty, honeyed sweetness sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. A baked apple and a gentle ginger lift it. A honeyed, lightly spiced finish lingers. This is Tullibardine, the lookout hill malt.