Tullibardine 2005 The Murray

This Tullibardine, an official release matured to 12 year old from 2005 and bottled at 56.3%. Built in 1949 at Blackford in Perthshire, Tullibardine is a soft, honeyed Highland malt. It stands on a site with five hundred years of brewing; King James IV bought ale at Blackford in 1488.

It was worked through the distillery's pot stills, for the soft, honeyed Highland make Tullibardine is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the malt. Still young, the malt is honeyed and fruity with a soft spice. Refill oak lets the honeyed Tullibardine character lead, vanilla over toffee. It is one of few distilleries to distil, mature and bottle entirely on the one site. Delme-Evans, a noted gravity flow designer, also drew up the Jura and GlenAllachie distilleries. The malt also feeds the Highland Queen blend, another brand in the Picard stable. Part of the old estate was turned into a retail outlet during the lean years.

Bottled at a cask strength 56.3%, it is rich. A malty, honeyed sweetness sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. A baked apple and a gentle ginger lift it. It finishes soft, honeyed and clean. This is Tullibardine, the lookout hill malt.