Who has pushed on the A9 street in Scotland?
It’s not too presumptuous to say that just about each resident and – sure, I’ll say it – each customer may have pushed a stretch of this street. It runs from Falkirk space as much as Scrabster within the north, and is the longest street in Scotland. Alongside its route it passes comparatively shut to a couple distilleries, from Rosebank distillery (which isn’t too distant from the A9’s southernmost tip) to Wolfburn within the north. It passes the likes of Dalwhinnie, Tomatin, Glenmorangie, and Clynelish (and is near others) on the best way.
Now, there may be most likely a slight likelihood that I’m incorrect with this however – for me – the closest distillery to the street is Tullibardine. The remaining are seen, however I feel in case your automobile threw up a stone because it handed Tullibardine, there’s a likelihood it could hit the constructing. Glenmorangie automobile park is about the identical distance however the buildings are additional in. So I’d recommend that, if you happen to’ve pushed this street, you have got most likely been nearly inside touching distance of Tullibardine Distillery.
Tullibardine is in a small space known as Blackford in Perthshire. Within the massive scheme of Scotch producing distilleries it’s a relative newcomer. Initially a brewery, Tullibardine got here in to existence as a distillery in 1947 when William Delme-Evans and a pal noticed an commercial for the sale of the disused brewery. Delme-Evans would go on to additionally assemble Jura and Glenallachie. He was additionally concerned at Macduff (Glen Deveron) however – after a disagreement throughout the construct – resigned and opted to by no means point out the place in his resume once more.
From its authentic development commencing in 1947, Tullibardine set to work in 1949 and continued in operation till 1995, when it was mothballed by its by then-owners Whyte & Mackay. It lay dormant for a number of years earlier than being bought in 2003, with manufacturing then resuming. By 2011 it was to vary arms once more, now coming beneath possession of its present custodians, the French firm Picard Vins & Spiritueux. Since that takeover it has continued to supply a steady core vary of Highland single malt, some restricted releases and may be discovered independently bottled.
Like these different distilleries talked about above, Tullibardine was a distillery that I handed many occasions, however – for no motive that I can put my finger on – I by no means really engaged with it. Then, I used to be given a pattern from an unbiased bottler final yr. I’ll be trustworthy and say I can’t keep in mind which one, however I do know I loved the dram.
Spring ahead to earlier this yr and I gained a web-based competitors. The prize? A bottle of Tullibardine 500 (sherry cask).
A wee observe earlier than I proceed: lots of Tullibardine’s bottles carry massive numbers on the label, and you’ll have seen me point out them right here. This can be a advertising and marketing device utilized by the distillery and it signifies the scale (in litres) of the casks utilized in manufacturing.
The bottle of 500 arrived and sat on the shelf in anticipation of being opened quickly. A number of months later and I nonetheless hadn’t opened it. Then, sooner or later Amy was doing the grocery store. She known as, “Would you like a bottle of whisky?”
By no means one to knock again on that provide I mentioned sure, she duly arrived house with a bottle of Tullibardine 228 (Burgundy cask). Good! I positioned it on the shelf and – yup, you guessed it – I by no means opened it!
That’s, till two weeks in the past; with the youngsters happening two weeks’ college break. we determined to move north to Dornoch (I had plans to go to the Thompson Bros’ whisky bar and store). Amy went off to do the grocery store for our journey and – being the keeper she is – she known as, “Would you like a bottle to take with you?”
Once more, who can say “no” to a associate who takes care of you want that? So, when she obtained house it shouldn’t have been a shock when out she pulls… Tullibardine 225 (Sauternes cask). I’m beginning to marvel if she has a secret job as a model ambassador. If anybody who reads this follows my social media of watches my YouTube channel, you’ll know that Sauternes matured whisky is sort of a wee little bit of nectar to me, be it Glen Moray, Arran, Tomintoul, Glenmorangie and so on… if they’ve a Sauternes end, I’ll nearly positively have given it a very good bash.
So we headed north to Dornoch, And my pal Mark and I (his household had joined us for the journey) cracked open the Sauternes.
Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask End – Evaluate
Color:A lightweight gold.
On the nostril: Shiny, contemporary, citrus, very welcome and refreshing nostril; the scent offers me the reminiscences of summer season. Some vanilla and chocolate maybe as a base to the fruit-filled nostril.
Within the mouth The palate is a wee bit extra spicy, its a 43% ABV however the spice shouldn’t be the alcohol; it’s fairly a candy Chinese language-style spice. Then there are the candy fruits, candied fruits, citrus, pineapple, tinned pineapple juice. Some might imagine that this makes it sound far too candy however, no, it’s nicely balanced for my palate. A medium heading in direction of long-ish lingering end, fruity and nice.
Conclusions:
I ought to have gone right here a lot earlier! Some will assume that my notes maybe give the impression that it is a very candy dram; while I admit the sweetness is there, it’s in no way only a juice drink. There are issues in there to search out, and one other palate/nostril will most likely come away from this whisky with so many alternative takes on it. If you’re somebody who likes a Sauternes or a dram that doesn’t go away a bitter style, then that is one thing to attempt. When it hits the pocket for lower than £40, then certainly it’s value a sip? Now for me it’s time to open the opposite two bottles of Tullibardine and await the editor to scream at me for opinions!
Rating: 5/10
Picture courtesy of Grasp of Malt.
