Tullibardine Sovereign

1. What they say

TULLIBARDINE’S SIGNATURE SINGLE MALT HAS BEEN MATURED IN FIRST-FILL EX-BOURBON BARRELS.
https://www.tullibardine.com/signature-range.html

2. Official tasting notes

THE SOVEREIGN IS BEAUTIFULLY GOLDEN WITH ITS FLORAL, SWEET BARLEY NOTES AND SUBTLE HINTS OF VANILLA. ON THE FINISH THERE IS FUDGE, PEAR DROPS AND SOFT SPICE.

3. Details

ABV 43%
Age NAS
Bottler OB
Bottling Sovereign
Cask Bourbon
Category Single malt scotch whisky
Cost £35
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. We started with their entry-level all bourbon matured Sovereign expression, matured for around 6-8 years but carried no age statement.

5. The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Colour Bright amber gold (8/20), oily, medium-large tears and legs.
Nose Sweet cereal and citrus, dusty and fruity, juicy oranges and lemons, malted milk biscuits, touch of pear drops esters and bubblegum, later some ripe banana and vanilla cream.
Taste Medium-bodied, oily and buttery, smooth on the palate, St. Clements cake, some soft cinnamon, oak wood, cabinet varnish, orange zest, vanilla and toasted coconut hints.
Finish Medium, drying and a touch spicy and zesty, become mouth-watering.

6. Overall

Good texture and rounded with a good balance between fruit and oak wood before drier and spicier elements add interest. Perhaps a shade of spirit nature belies the youthfulness on the palate.

The Whiskyphiles

Tullibardine Sovereign