Tullibardine 228 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland (Central)

Brand: Tullibardine

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 43 %

Colour: Reddish Gold (Ruby)

Nose: Plain German Butter Biscuits (Butterkekse), Red Grape Juice, Malt, Honey, Red Fruit, Oak, Vanilla and light Spices. It's still a rather young Whisky and Alcohol, Wood and Spirit are not (yet) fully integrated. 

Palate: Red Fruit (Berries), Malt, Apple Pie with Nuts and Vanilla Sauce,  Oak, Honey, Toffee, Pepper and Woodspice.

Finish: Middle-Long and quite dry with Oak, Vanilla, Pepper, Red Fruit, Malt and a hint of Apricot Marmalade towards the end

With a bit of Water the Red Wine/Red Grape Juice Notes on the Nose become stronger. The Alcohol retreats of course and that improves the Balance. Palate and Finish don't benefit from Water however. When you do add some water though, be careful to add just a few drops at a time.

Rating: 83.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: The 228 is a Tullibardine Distillery Bottling. I would guess it matured for 5-7 years in Ex-Bourbon Casks. Before being bottled in 2013, it was finished for an additional 12 months in a 228-litre Red Burgundy Wine Cask from Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet. It costs around 55 US Dollars.

The Tullibardine Distillery was founded in 1949 and is located in Blackford (Perthshire) on the site of a former Brewery. In 1995, Tullibardine was mothballed by Whyte & Mackay, the owners at that time. Production was resumed in 2003 when the distillery was sold to Tullibardine Distillery Ltd. In 2011, the French Maison Michel Picard from Chassagne Montrachet became the new owner.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: You will know by now that I'm not much of a fan of Red Wine Finishing. Let Wine be Wine and Whisky be Whisky! In this case I have the feeling that the Chassagne Montrachet masks some of the imperfections of the relatively young Tullibardine Spirit. Still, this Single Malt is quite drinkable and I really enjoyed the Butterkeks note, especially when I first opened the sample. So if you are a fan of Red Wine Finished Whisky you could give this one a try as it's reasonably priced.

Jan van den Ende                                                                  June 12, 2013

MacLeod's Lowland 8 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: MacLeod's

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Lowland

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Colour: Pale Gold, Straw

Nose: An initial waft of Sherry passes relatively quickly and is followed by Straw, Pencils, Green Oak, Biscuits, Alcohol, a hint of Sulphur and a bit of Citrus. Slightly Metallic. Not much going on I'm afraid.

Palate: Quite Thin with Malt, Hay, Orange, Oak and light Spices. 

Finish: Bitter-Sweet with Sugar, Malt, Oak, light Spices and Orange Marmalade.

I added a few drops of water and the Nose basically disappears. Palate and Finish gain some Herbs and very light Licorice. It really doesn't matter a lot!

Rating: 74.5

Nose: 18.5 – Taste: 19 – Finish: 18.5 – Overall: 18.5 

General Remarks: This Lowland Single Malt was produced and bottled by Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd, an Independent Bottler established in 1933 and a.o. owner of the Glengoyne Distillery and various Blends such as Isle of Skye and Smokehead. Many people will know their Chieftain's range as well. The Lowland is part of a small collection known as MacLeod's Scotch Whisky Trail that also includes a Single Malt from Speyside, Highland, Island and Islay as well as the before mentioned Isle of Skye Blend. A full bottle of the Lowland costs around 40 US Dollars but the collection has been discontinued apparently although a Miniature Gift Set is still widely available. (See Picture Below)

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average

Conclusion: Quite a disappointment really. There are not many Lowland Distilleries left so this is probably either Auchentoshan or Glenkinchie, matured in - or finished in Ex-Sherry Casks. Light Nose, Weak Palate and Short and Indifferent Finish. Let's forget about this one shall we!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 June 10, 2013

Glencadam 10 Years Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland - Eastern

Brand: Glencadam

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 46 %

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: When I opened the miniature and had a quick smell I immediately got lots of tasty Malt. When Nosing the Glencadam in the glass however, I got something completely different. Strawberry Flavoured Mushrooms in a Plastic Container! Yes, I know it sounds weird but that was my first impression. No wonder I'm not too excited about the Nose of this Glencadam. When that first impression fades away there's more of course so give this Single Malt some time to open up. After a little while I got Grass/Straw, Malt/Grains, Lemon, Oak, Vanilla, Honey, Spice, Mint, Alcohol and hints of Orange and Tangerine. Quite some influence from the Ex-Bourbon Cask I would say although the Colour is rather light. But all in all there's room for improvement in this department!

Palate: Better than I expected after Nosing but nothing to get really excited about. First comes Creamy Sweet Malt quickly followed by Oak, Wood Spice, Lemon, Vanilla, Coffee, Orange and a bit of Mint. 

Finish: Short, Sweet and Spicy with Malt, Grains, Vanilla, Oak, Black Pepper, Coffee, Nuts, Mint, Orange and a touch of Cassis Liqueur. 

With a bit of Water, the Nose becomes lighter, even fragile but also more delicate with Malt, Honey, Grass and Citrus. But Palate and Finish do not accept Water very well despite the high ABV.

Rating: 80

Nose: 19.5 - Taste: 20.5  - Finish: 20  - Overall: 20

General Remarks: The Glencadam Distillery is located in Brechin (Angus) close to the (small) river Esk. The Distillery was built in 1825. Since 1954 it was subsequently owned by Hiram Walker, Ballantine's, and Allied Distillers and was mainly used in Blends like Ballantine's, Teacher's and Cream of the Barley. It was mothballed in 2000 and things looked bad until Angus Dundee Distillers bought it in 2003 and brought it back to Single Malt status although it's still used in many Blends as well. The Glencadam 10 was first released in 2008. It is unchillfiltered and no colouring is added. It matures in ex Bourbon Casks. The Distillery calls its whisky " The Rather Delicate Highland Malt". It is believed that this is the result of the fact that the pipes of the Pot Stills run upwards at an angle of 15 degrees instead of downwards as usually is the case. Glencadam 10 Years is not too expensive at around 40 US Dollars.  

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: First of all I believe that this Distillery is going into the correct direction. Good ABV, no colouring and unchillfiltered. That counts for something. But what I most of all like in a good Single Malt are Character, Complexity and Balance. I can't find neither of those in this Glencadam in sufficient quantities. Too much Malt, Oak and Spices in the lead for my taste. I wouldn't call it a "Rather Delicate Highland Malt". But if you like a Malty and Spicy flavour profile, the Glencadam 10 might just be what you're looking for as it's certainly reasonably priced. And the Cassis Liqueur is a nice touch towards the end of the Finish. My advice: Taste it first before buying a full bottle!

Jan van den Ende                                                                      June 8, 2013