Tullibardine Distillery is one of the oldest brewing sites in Scotland, with origins dating back to 1488. Located in Blackford, the distillery is between the Lowland and Highland regions, but the scotch is categorized as Highland. It’s one of the few distilleries close enough to Edinburgh to visit in an easy day trip. So of course I took a tour of it on my last trip.
I discovered Tullibardine at WhiskyFest in Chicago, a massive event showcasing hundreds of whiskies held at different cities around the country. The best part about WhiskyFest is trying expressions I’d never otherwise discover, like Tullibardine’s Burgundy Finish. That’s when I learned Tullibardine is an easy visit from Edinburgh and immediately planned to visit the distillery.
Touring Tullibardine Distillery in Scotland
Getting to Tullibardine Distillery from Edinburgh
Tullibardine Distillery is in Blackford, Scotland, about 50 miles away from Edinburgh. It’s a quick hour on the train to Stirling, then about a 30 minute drive to the distillery. Buses make the journey but only run every hour or two, so double check the timing. (We miscalculated and had to take a cab to the distillery, about 40£.)
We arrived at the distillery earlier than our scheduled tour, so the Tullibardine team offered us tea and coffee while we waited. They brought it in cute cups and saucers, with cream and sugar, to enjoy in the whisky shop. I couldn’t believe how thoughtful it was!
Once we were nice and caffeinated, the three others joining our tour arrived and we dove into the distillery with our guide, Ion. He was fun and knowledgeable, with a great sense of humor who took playful jabs at each of us. Our group was so small it made us all instantly feel like friends.
One of Scotland’s Oldest
The distillery site started as a beer brewery in 1488, making it one of the oldest brewing and distilling sites in Scotland. Sharp’s Brewery, as it was called, was Scotland’s first public brewery. It’s famously said that King James IV of Scotland (who was born at nearby Stirling Castle) stopped there for a beer before his coronation — even though he was only 15 years old! (Back then beer was safer than water to drink. Oh the good ole days!)
Sharp’s Brewery was known for excellent beer, which was credited to the local water source, the Danny Burn. The water comes from the nearby Ochil Hills and takes 15 years to reach the Danny Burn, where it’s crystal clear. (It’s now bottled and branded as Highland Spring water.)
The first Tullibardine Distillery opened in 1798 but only ran for a year. In 1814 a second attempt opened that operated until 1837. It wasn’t until 1947 that the current distillery opened, but it was mothballed in 1995. Production resumed in 2003, but some of the earlier stash survived so older expressions still exist. (Tullibardine is one of the single malts blended into Highland Queen, who shares the same owner.)
Tullibardine, Prohibition & “The Real McCoy”
According to our tour guide, Tullibardine was one of the whiskies smuggled into the U.S. during Prohibition. Captain William McCoy, the notorious bootlegger who didn’t drink, smuggled scotch into the U.S. and refused to dilute or water down his product. The reputation for his pure whisky was the basis for the phrase “The Real McCoy.”
Scotch was not only illegally imported into the U.S. during Prohibition, it was legally imported for “medicinal purposes.” Americans realized their love of scotch during this era and the scotch market exploded. By the time Prohibition ended it was the leading export market. The American taste for Scottish whisky remained and, since American distilleries had to work to restart production, scotch maintained a significant hold of the market.
All On-Site
Tullibardine Distillery is one of the few distilleries in Scotland that distills, ages, and bottles their whisky all on site. And tours of the distillery show most of the process.
We learned all the steps of the whisky-making process, getting an up close look at the fermentation tanks and pot stills. Then we learned about the different casks used for finishing. Tullibardine’s whisky is finished in different casks after starting with first-fill ex-bourbon barrels.
The Sovereign, Tullibardine’s signature whisky, is only matured in ex-bourbon casks, giving it floral, sweet barley notes with subtle hints of vanilla and a chocolatey, soft spicy finish. The 225 Sauternes Finish matures in Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes casks. The sweet white wine from Bordeaux creates flavors of vanilla, oatmeal, and pineapple with a citrusy lime on the nose.
My favorite, the 228 Burgundy Finish, is finished in Pinot Noir barrels from Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet. The French red wine barrels offer a nose of red cherries, vanilla and chocolate; and a palate of red summer fruit, chocolate and sweet spice. The 500 Sherry Finish, the expression I really liked, matures in Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butts. The sherry gives it a nose of intense toffee apple notes that combine with sweet dates on the finish.
Tullibardine’s Marquess Collection & The Murray
After the tour, we tasted a handful of Tullibardine’s whiskies and joked around with our tour guide. Even though the tour was only an hour, we made friends with our fellow whisky lovers and they offered to give us a ride back to the train station. I love when whisky turns strangers into friends!
Once the tasting was finished, we were invited to check out the whisky shop, but our guide didn’t pressure us to buy anything. (I really appreciated that.) Besides, the Tullibardine bottle I wanted was sold out at the distillery.
I was searching for a specific bottle of Tullibardine’s limited release series called the Marquess Collection. Created in 2016, the first release was called The Murray. It was distilled in 2004, then matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels for 12 years and bottled at cask strength in 2016. Only 6,000 bottles were made.
The Murray 2004
It just so happened that the high school I went to was called Murray and I graduated in 2004, the same year it was distilled. Cue me freaking out and deciding I had to have it! Only it was practically impossible to find. In yet another example of how friendly the Tullibardine family is, I reached out to the distributor I met at WhiskyFest to ask for his help. And sure enough, he came through, finding me my very own bottle of The Murray. (Thank you again, Joe!)
The website’s description of The Murray is too beautiful not to share. The Murray features chocolate-dipped strawberries which leads to herbal oak and buttery notes, then combines with a burst of barley an orchard fruits, filling the mouth with a hint of orange blossom, and ending with spicy peppercorn. I haven’t opened it yet, but I can’t wait to try it!
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The best part of touring a distillery is not just getting a peek at where and how a specific whisky is made. It’s meeting the people that create the whisky. Everyone was so passionate and friendly at Tullibardine and I love that I was able to meet some of the team. Now when I drink Tullibardine I not only think about my wonderful trip to Scotland, but of all the fun people I met at the distillery.
Slainte!
Tullibardine Distillery Tour Info
Tours at Tullibardine Distillery are offered 7 days a week, 10 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended beforehand. Several tours are offered: Classic, 45-minutes with two tastes (8£); Whisky & Chocolate, 90-minutes with four tastes, chocolate truffle and gift bag (25£); Bonded, 90-minutes with a nosing of some casks, three tastes and a gift bag (27£); and Connoisseur, 2 hours with nosing of casks, four tastes, chocolate truffle and gift bag (45£). Some are discounted with 2 or more people.
Related :: Exploring Tullibardine’s Marquess Collection, A Guide to Scotch Regions of Scotland
