Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Cask Finish

1. What they say

THE AUBURN HUE OF THIS WHISKY COMES DIRECTLY FROM ITS TIME SPENT IN THE 228 LITRE BARRIQUES THAT PREVIOUSLY HELD PINOT NOIR FROM CHATEAU DE CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET.

https://www.tullibardine.com/signature-range.html

2. Official tasting notes

THE NOSE OF THE 228 FEATURES RED CHERRIES AND VANILLA WITH HINTS OF CHOCOLATE AND TURKISH DELIGHT. ON THE PALATE, THERE IS A REAL HINT OF RED SUMMER FRUIT, MORE CHOCOLATE AND A SWEET SPICE NOTE ON THE FINISH.

3. Details

• ABV 43%
• Age NAS
• Bottler OB
• Bottling 228
• Cask Bourbon & Burgundy
• Category Single malt scotch whisky
• Cost £35-£40
• Origin Tullibardine Distillery
• Region Highland
• Released 2013

4. What I say

I recently took part in a festive and virtual tour and tasting with Tullibardine distillery including a run through examples from their signature range via their Tasting collection set. The focus of the tasting was based around food pairing and exploring the versatility of the Tullibardine core range. Following on from the Tullibardine Sovereign the core range extends through a variety of cask finishes, named after their respective litreage. After the 225 Sauternes comes the 228 Burgundy wine cask finish. Finished for 6 months in Red Burgundy casks from Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet.

5. The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

• Colour Ruby autumnal (11/20), medium-large tears and legs.
• Nose Sweet and dusty, milk chocolate, toffee, cherry and red fruits, spiced cinnamon, milled barley, floral roses.
• Taste Medium bodied, caramel and woody spices lead, sweet and a touch solventy with hints of acetone, honey, hazelnut puree, forest fruits jam and soft vanilla.
• Finish Medium-short, spiced and drying with some tannic oak wood and lingering red berry.

6. Overall

Revisiting the Tullibardine 228, albeit in it’s revised packaging I was slightly underwhelmed with this expression compared to my first experience. Perhaps it was due to following the sweetness of the 225? I didn’t feel this had quite as much of the red wine influence as tasted prior and my fear was whilst the overall quality of Tullibardine’s releases has been normalised and raised slightly it has dulled the extremes which made them fun and interesting. Maybe in a different line-up or pairing this one will shine differently?

7. Score 79/100