Tullibardine The Murray - 2013 Cask Strength

If you want to really find out about distillery character you need a dram at cask strength matured in ex-bourbon casks. 

Tullibardine have just released The Murray to allow you to, so let's try it!

Distillery Notes:

Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2026, this exquisite limited edition is fully matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and bottled at cask strength. Limited to just 9,800 bottles globally, it’s a beautifully layered whisky that greets you with the warmth of seasoned oak and the gentle depth of toasted barley. Sweet, medium-bodied and spicy.

The Marquess Collection, launched in 2016, is a nod to famous historical figures who bore the Marquess of Tullibardine title in Scotland for centuries, and the rich history of the Tullibardine region. The name derives from the 2nd Marquess of Tullibardine, Sir William Murray, who fought for the Jacobites at the Battle of Sheriffmuir on the Ochil hills above the Tullibardine distillery.

Nose: Vanilla pod, creamy custard with roasted/toasted barley malt and light biscuit notes.

Palate: Sweet notes of buttery toffee and honeycomb, balanced by mid-palate complexity that emerges through dark fruit undertones, married with toasted oak and nuts and a subtle woody spice.

Finish: Warming vanilla provides a soft, rounded lingering finish.

Natural colour and non-chill filtered.

My thoughts:

Appearance: pale gold in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a hair line crack in the glass, form small beads and fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: vanilla, icing sugar and a little citrus, There's some fresh baked shortbread, poached pear and vanilla custard. A little time and air offers rum and raisin ice-cream notes.

Palate: thick sweet creamy arrival: Caramel Apple Granny, dry icing sugar and a lovely wood spice. There's vanilla, marzipan and more of the rum and raisin ice-cream from the nose. Berry hints and a little citrus zest round things off.

Finish: long and drying with vanilla, peppery spice and ice-cream.

Overall: ex-bourbon casks give you distillery character, there's nothing to mask or hide the spirit and if you want to know the DNA of a distillery it's the best place to start. I've tried wine, port and various sherry cask matured or finished Tullis but I'm pretty sure this is the first ex-bourbon. It doesn't disappoint! A very under the radar distillery producing some great whisky.

Many thanks to Tullibardine Distillery for the bottle but this didn't sway my opinion.