Tullibardine 9 Years Old 2013 Cask #10536865 (Duncan Taylor)

Single malt Tullibardine, from the independent bottler Duncan Taylor matured to 9 year old from 2013, drawn from cask 10536865 and bottled at 54.9%. The outturn was 90 bottles. Tullibardine, established in 1949 beneath the Ochil Hills at Blackford, is known for its wine cask finishes. The name is Gaelic for lookout hill, after a nearby hill once used to watch for approaching strangers.

Distilled on soft Highland spring water, building the gentle Tullibardine style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the malt. Still young, the malt is honeyed and fruity with a soft spice. The honeyed spirit makes a fine base for a fortified or wine cask. Delme-Evans, a noted gravity flow designer, also drew up the Jura and GlenAllachie distilleries. The malt also feeds the Highland Queen blend, another brand in the Picard stable. Part of the old estate was turned into a retail outlet during the lean years.

Undiluted at 54.9%, it is layered. Oats, honey and a touch of ginger sit alongside honeyed oak sweetness underneath. It is gentle and honeyed, the soft spirit shining through. A honeyed, lightly spiced finish lingers. This is a wine finished Highland malt from Blackford.