Tullibardine 9 Year Old Batch 2
| Distillery: | Tullibardine |
|---|---|
| Region: | Highland |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Abv: | 50.5% |
| Advent Year: | 2016 |
| Rating: |
I have to confess that until today I'd never even heard of Tullibardine.
It turns out that when the distillery was founded in 1947 - by a Welshman, curiously enough - it was the first new distillery to be built in the 20th century. Probably. I can find at least two other distilleries who make the same claim, but they also admit to being founded considerably after 1947, so for now I'll give Tullibardine the credit!
Tullibardine 9 Year Old Batch 2 is a 50.5% ABV, pale coloured whisky.
The nose is initially full of sugar and pear drops, while beneath that lurks a hint of lemon peel. Water strips out a lot of the interest, leaving little more than an unremarkable spirit-soaked oak.
In the mouth it's much fuller than the nose lead me to expect; ripe oranges, golden syrup and perhaps a little creamy milk chocolate.
Watered, if anything it becomes fruitier but more acidic with it; limes now, but still balanced with softly caramelised sugar and still with that soft, creamy feeling.
This whisky definitely suffers with water, but taken straight it's pleasant enough - 3 stars.
Many thanks to Master Of Malt for providing their That Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent Calendar this year.
This review was originally published 8th December, 2016. It was last updated 1st June, 2023.