Review: Tullibardine 12 Years Old Bourbon Cask, 12 Years Old Double Wood, and Artisan
Tullibardine keeps mixing up its lineup, and while you will find its numerically guided Signature Range in the U.S., you will also now discover three expressions exclusive to the country, two with age statements, one without, and all focused on affordability. The distillery site dates back to 1488, but these three offerings are as fresh as daisies. Let’s dive in.
Tullibardine 12 Years Old Bourbon Cask Review
Aged for 12 years in first fill bourbon casks. Quite nutty, with layers of lightly sweetened cereal undulating underneath. Gentle aromas of white pepper and white flowers add a hint of the exotic, though it’s nothing outside the realm of expectation for your classic single malt.
On the palate the cereal core finds more sweetness and a light lacing of fruit in the form of dried apples and banana chips, later evoking banana bread spiked with walnuts. Time in glass (and on the palate) helps the peppery hints on the nose to become more prominent, adding a pinch of spice to the back of the tongue. It lingers there for quite some time, counterbalancing the chewier, breadier qualities of the experience, though eventually the mild fruitiness replaces it once again. A perfectly acceptable workaday single malt. 80 proof. B+ / $40
Tullibardine 12 Years Old Double Wood Review
Aged in first fill bourbon casks and finished in first fill sherry casks. No surprises here, the whisky showcasing gently nutty aromatics, heavy on the walnuts, and a light citrus quality — turning lemony with time — that adds some balance to heavy notes of grainy cereal that otherwise dominate.
The palate is cereal-forward with notes of toasted almonds and milk chocolate. Refreshing and light, it moves into a more fruit-driven character from there, with banana and milk chocolate pairing well together. The finish reprises citrus and a lightly spicy note, heaviest on cinnamon. Largely straightforward from front to back, it’s nonetheless an enjoyable, if overly easygoing, dram. 86 proof. B+ / $50
Tullibardine Artisan Review
Aged in ex-bourbon casks, but with no age statement (or indication of how many times they’ve been used). This is an entry-level offering, and priced accordingly.
Bright and quite citrusy on the nose, the whisky showcases a surprisingly lemony character on the attack, fading with time in glass to reveal layers of coconut, almond, and milk chocolate. It’s a very soothing experience that is not dissimilar to the 12 year old double wood expression, despite the lack of any sherry in the aging regimen.
The palate is quite heavy with chocolate notes and a toasted sesame seed character, later evoking gentle orange flavors, evoking dried slices of the fruit. The finish adds in some floral elements, namely jasmine, but is otherwise a clean and cleansing experience that is impossible not to enjoy. Solid on its own, and excellent in a highball. Great value. 80 proof. A- / $30 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
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