Bourbon Cask – The Whiskyphiles

Tullibardine 500

By Barry Bradford on March 30, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

My favourite of the tasting – I guess no surprises there! I guess like the whole range I felt this was a bit safe and unchallenging. I’d prefer a bit more strength or depth to some of the finishing flavours – but perhaps that’s just my palate and predilections. The whole range is quite polished and well put together, meaning accessibility and joy for newcomers. Thankfully Tullibardine have extended their signature and other ranges greatly since these were released in 2013 and I guess I should be exploring these more myself. 83/100

Tullibardine 228

By Barry Bradford on March 29, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

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? 79/100

Tullibardine 225

By Barry Bradford on March 29, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

from Tullibardine’s spirit. This one seems quite light on the impact of the finishing cask and I found myself wishing it went a little further, the end result is a sweeter and fruitier dram with a touch more woody spices too. 81/100

Tullibardine Sovereign

By Barry Bradford on March 29, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

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. 80/100

Spey Fumare Cask Strength Batch #2

By Barry Bradford on November 12, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

A fire-breathing beast of a dram from Spey which manages to capture everything from the light fruity apple nature of Spey’s distillate and plenty of Bourbon cask classic flavours too. Perfect at CS or with a healthy sploosh of water, the smoke travels a long way. 86/100

Spey Trutina

By Barry Bradford on November 12, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

A cleaner expression which is still remarkably fruity with tonnes of apples and pears across the nose and palate. 84/100

Kavalan ex-Bourbon Oak

By Barry Bradford on September 16, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

Very polished and smooth, Highland toffee, buttery caramel and creamy vanilla, some fruit and woody notes make this one a very easy drinker. 85/100

Fettercairn 12 Years Old 2009 Bourbon Cask

By Barry Bradford on September 8, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

Soft fruity and vanillic, actually really good, I think I like this single cask more than the standard Fettercairn 12 Years Old – I suspect Greg picked out one of the best of the bunch? 84/100

Fettercairn Warehouse 2 Batch No.002

By Barry Bradford on September 6, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

Fettercairn Warehouse 2 Batch 2 Bottle Shot

Considering I find the standard 12 a little spicy in the tail I was a little apprehensive of the Rye maturation used here. It really accentuates other facets of Fettercairn’s spirit but surreptitious use of sweet and vanillic ex-Bourbon casks brings plenty of coconut and chocolate along for the ride making this one a real journey. Actually the more I tasted the more welcoming the spicy Rye elements were. Bravo! 85/100

Fettercairn 12 Years Old

By Barry Bradford on September 6, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

Relatively easy going, everything is quite soft and smooth initially. There is that characteristic leafy green note to Fettercairn that seems much more integrated here than I remember previously, gets a little too spicy and drying at the end for me. 80/100