Tullibardine 2005 The Murray (46%)

An official Tullibardine single malt, a 15 year old release from 2005 and bottled at 46%. 17550 bottles in all. Tullibardine, established in 1949 at the foot of the Ochil Hills, is known for its wine cask finishes. Water comes from the Ochil Hills springs, the same source as the Highland Spring bottled water.

Distilled in copper stills on Ochil Hills spring water, giving the light, fruity spirit at its heart. Maturation in a sherry cask laid dried fruit over the honeyed malt. By this age the soft spirit rounds into honeyed fruit and a gentle oak. Years in oak round the spirit, the honey and soft fruit deepening with age. The distillery sits just off the A9 near Gleneagles, one of Scotland's more accessible. Under French wine ownership the distillery has leaned into its cask finishes. The Murray and Custodian's Collections gather its older and rarer bottlings.

At an easy 46% it is light. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth, and the refill oak lending honey and vanilla runs under apple, honey and a gentle spice. It is fruity and soft, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish is rounded, honeyed and gentle. This is a honeyed Highland single malt from Perthshire.