Nestled in the town of Blackford and surrounded by the Ochil Hills, Tullibardine (Gaelic – lookout hill) was converted from an old brewery and began distilling in 1949, making it a relatively young distillery. Blackford is a sort of gateway to the highlands, and for many years Tullibardine simply matured their offerings in sherry casks. At some point along the way, however, they have begun taking their base offering and providing a series of different finishes in the final year of aging (currently Sauternes, Burgundy and Sherry). With the Tullibardine 228, the number denotes the liters the cask held. Burgundy is not a finish seen terribly often with whiskies, so we are very curious to to see what this single malt offers. Recently, these whiskies have been discontinued and a new core range offered.
Distillery: Tullibardine
Region: Highlands
Age: NAS
Strength: 43%
Price: $63.99
Location: Blackford
Maturation: Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet Burgundy casks
Nose: Cedar smoke, sweet, honey, wine, syrup, apple
Palate: Syrup, wine, brine, earthy
Finish: Sweet, wine, syrup
Comments:
Adam – This is a rich scotch. A little oily from the wine, but not problematically so. The Burgundy is very present throughout, which is very nice. I much prefer this cask finish to the Sauternes finishes we’ve tried. The warm, sweet notes it brings complement the underlying whisky. Close to a dessert whisky. Over the years I have enjoyed showcasing wine finishes at scotch tastings and the Tullibardine 228 often makes an appearance. More please!
Kate – I would definitely sit beside this guy all night on the porch, just nodding along. I enjoy the entirety of this scotch.
Meghan – It is like watching The Simpsons in a foreign language- it’s familiar and yet, different enough that you can’t quite understand it. The wine finish is very present. A nice woodsy feel with a long warm finish.
I would definitely sit beside this guy all night on the porch, just nodding along.
Henry – The Tullibardine 228 is the ideal summer dram. Delicious, from the sweet vanilla and fruit nose to the oaky, satisfying finish. A little water brings out the sugar, spice, and everything nice. As someone who came to scotch from the world of fine wines, I love exploring cask finishes, and this dram is pretty much the perfect introduction to this class of whiskies. What it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up for in its clear and forward finish expression at a reasonable price point.
