Tullibardine 32 Years Old 1993 Fractals (Maltbarn)

This Tullibardine was an independent Maltbarn bottling, a 32 year old Highland malt from 1993 and bottled at 47.1%. The outturn was 158 bottles. Founded in 1949 in the southern Highlands near Gleneagles, Tullibardine is a soft, honeyed Highland malt. 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. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. At this great age the malt is full and mellow, the honey deep and the oak soft. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the honeyed, malty core over time. 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.

At 47.1%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Vanilla, toffee and orchard fruit meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and vanilla sit behind the sweetness. It finishes soft, honeyed and clean. This is the soft Highland malt of Blackford.