Tullibardine 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #21603506 (Connoisseurs Choice)

Gordon & MacPhail bottled this Tullibardine single malt, aged 15 year old from 2008, drawn from cask 21603506 and bottled at 58.2%. The outturn was 263 bottles. Tullibardine was founded in 1949 by William Delme-Evans in Perthshire, off the A9, and it stands on a site with five centuries of brewing. It was founded by the distillery architect William Delme-Evans, the first new distillery in Scotland after the war.

The spirit was made in copper stills for a soft, fruity make, for a fruity, mellow make. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed sweetness. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper, maltier fruit. Under French wine ownership the distillery has leaned into cask finishes. Its water rises in the Ochil Hills, the same source that feeds the Highland Spring brand. After lean years and a long silence, private investors brought the distillery back to life in 2003.

At 58.2%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Vanilla and a light toffee from the barrel runs under apple, honey and a gentle spice. It is fruity and soft, the fruit and oak well matched. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is a honeyed Highland single malt from Perthshire.