Signatory Vintage Tullibardine 100 proof
A 100 proof Tullibardine in quick review:
As a whisky fan, I often get questions from people what whisky to buy. Either for themselves or as a gift for a whisky lover. And I tend to guide them towards Indie bottlers. Why? Because I really like Indie bottlers. But a fun element of those bottles, is that they stick out between core ranges. And even more recently, when the price range is mentioned with those requests for advice, if it is around €50, I tell them to look into the Signatory Vintage 100 proof series. Often young, but really nice whiskies, bottled at 57,1% Vol. One couls tate that 100 Proof is 50% ABV, but that would be an American. In the UK, proof is defined as: "a quantity of 100 degrees proof liquor has the same weight as 12/13 of the same volume of pure water at 51 °F." Hence, 100-proof alcohol has 57.15% ABV.
This specific bottle was part of the second outturn, as can be seen on the label, where it states: "100 proof edition #2"
I got this bottle, because I normally skip some brands. And I did not have any Tullibardine in my selection, although I used to love one I tried before.
So, I got this bottle of whisky.
I already discussed the alcohol percentage. Which in this case, based on the name of the series, is no surprise. But let's discuss the colour: A warm brown hue that is close to a deep dark amber.
This whisky is un-chillfiltered and has no added colour.
Aged for 8 years on a first fill Oloroso Sherry butt, this whisky can only bee sweet and fruity.
On the nose:
My first sniff gives me some yeast. The smell of the dough rising. Then some sultana's and sweet but burned honey pop up. A light hint of oak with some barley appear as soon as the almost syrupy dried fruit sweetness ends.
A second sniff gives me some dried orange peels paired as well.
The first sip releases a combined flood of tannines and sweetness. Oak and fruit fight for the first position of this sip. All paired with some caramelised brown sugar.
Some tobacco and a hidden tone of leather take over in a second sip and these notes become a little dominant. The constant sweetness stays nonetheless.
The finish is medium long and carries some of the more heavy notes: The sultanas, the leather and some oak.
The sugary sweetness disappears in this combination but leaves some dried fruits to linger.
