Tullibardine 28 Years Old 1993 (Phil & Simon Thompson)

From Phil & Simon Thompson comes this Tullibardine, aged 28 year old from 1993 and bottled at 47.6%. Just 347 bottles were filled. Built in 1949 at Blackford in Perthshire, Tullibardine is a soft, honeyed Highland malt. 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. Past twenty years the spirit turns honeyed and full while staying soft. Soft Ochil Hills water gives a clean, malty make. The name comes from the Gaelic for lookout hill, after a hill once used to watch for strangers. 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.

Bottled at a cask strength 47.6%, 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.