Tullibardine Marsala Wood Finish 12 Years Old 1993

This Tullibardine, an official release, a 12 year old release from 1993 and bottled at 46%. Tullibardine, first built in 1949 in the southern Highlands near Gleneagles, is known for its wine cask finishes. It is one of few distilleries to distil, mature and bottle all on the one site.

The spirit was run through the distillery's compact copper stills, to build a honeyed, malty character. A wine cask finish shaped it, the fruit meeting the honeyed spirit. Younger here, it keeps a light, honeyed freshness over vanilla. The soft, fruity spirit takes a wine finish particularly well, in the Picard house style. 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. The malt also feeds the Highland Queen blend, another brand in the Picard stable.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and balanced. The Marsala lends raisin and brown sugar, and oats, honey and a touch of ginger sit alongside soft vanilla and honey from the cask. 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.