Tullibardine 2006 The Murray

This official Tullibardine single malt, a 12 year old from 2006 and bottled at 46%. Tullibardine was opened in 1949 in the southern Highlands near Gleneagles; it is owned by the French wine house Picard. Mothballed in 1994, the distillery was revived in 2003 and bought by the French wine house Picard in 2011.

The spirit was run through the distillery's compact copper stills, to build a honeyed, malty character. A Burgundy or red wine cask lent red fruit and a soft spice. At this age the spirit is fresh and honeyed, the malt and soft fruit bright. Wine cask finishing is central to the modern range, layering extra fruit. Blackford's spring water has drawn brewers and distillers to the village for centuries. Tullibardine was founded in 1949 by the architect William Delme-Evans, the first new distillery in post war Scotland. King James IV is said to have bought ale at a Blackford brewery in 1488, on the site the distillery now occupies.

At 46% it is clean and honeyed. The Marsala lends raisin and brown sugar, and a soft, fruity vanilla meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Beneath it run honey, toffee and a soft spice. Vanilla and a soft ginger draw out the close. This is a soft, honeyed Highland single malt.