Cask Number: 411

Age: 18 years

ABV: 56.6%

Cask Type: Bourbon Barrel

Bottles: 113

Bottle Size: 700ml

93 points from Whisky Advocate's David Fleming:

"From independent bottler Creetown Distillers. A bit funky on the nose at first, but it blows off to reveal lemon tart, vanilla cake, candle wax and lemon tea.  The palate is gooey, sweet, well spiced and exploding with flavors of lemon, vanilla and spice. A very long finish completes an excellent dram, with the lemon accented by coconut flakes and sweet aged oak. The flavors seem both powerful and mellow at the same time."

Natural color, not chill-filtered.

About Tullibardine Distillery

Tullibardine or Tulli, as it’s referred to in the industry is a massive site sitting right off the A9, between Perth and Stirling in town of Blackford. As a distilling site, it’s a fairly new venture, established in 1949 by the distinguished distillery architect, William Delme-Evans. The site’s origins are quite interesting though, as the local brewery (predecessor to the distillery) recorded the first ever purchase of beer in 1488 when King James the 4^th of Scotland stopped to purchase a cask of ale following his coronation. The king enjoyed the beer so much that a few years later in 1503 he awarded the brewery the first Royal Charter.

Set at the foot of the Ochil Hills, Tullibardine’s water source, the Danny Burn, passes through layers of basalt and sandstone before delivering its fresh water to the distillery. The water in this area is renowned for its quality, Highland Spring, Scotland’s popular bottled spring water is sourced from the same hills. Yes, that’s the bottle with the purple thistle branding available in every Tesco and Morrison’s.

Throughout the mid-20^th century, Tullibardine changed hands several times, from the original owner to blender Brodie Hepburn to Invergordon and eventually to Whyte & Mackay, who quickly shut down the distillery in 1994. Prior to its shutdown, Tullibardine was known around town as a floral and nutty malt used primarily in blends. In 2003, Tullibardine Distillery was resurrected and its new owners focused on introducing the single malt Tullibardine to markets worldwide. Finding most of the existing stock in old and worn barrels (acceptable for blends but necessarily a prestigious single malt), the new owners embarked on an extensive re-casking project.

Today Tullibardine is owned by French conglomerate Picard Vins & Spiritueux, who continue the previous owners' goal of producing a premium single malt. Tullibardine’s core range now includes multiple age statements and cask types. The spirit retains its light and fruity notes but the nuttiness of ages past has been replaced. Tullibardine is a fine example of transforming a tired brand into a great brand once again.