Tullibardine 500
The Tullibardine 500 is based on the Tullibardine Sovereign and undergoes a 12-month finish in a classic sherry cask, which should be familiar to any whisky enthusiast.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Vanilla and malt open the nose of this Highland whisky. A hint of sherry paired with butterscotch merges with fermented fruit (apple, pear), giving it a slightly acidic flavour.
Palate
The whisky is soft and creamy, almost watery on the tongue. The classic fig and date flavours from the sherry cask would round off the taste well if it weren't for the disturbing ethanol note. Too bad.
Finish
Unfortunately, the 500's finish is short and bitter.
Thoughts
Marcel 65/100
Unfortunately, the Tullibardine 500 comes across as somewhat thin, with the sherry influence remaining rather subtle. Despite a slight improvement in quality compared to the Sovereign, it lacks the character that truly makes drinking it enjoyable – I would have hoped for more depth and warmth here.
Sascha 63/100
From a structural standpoint, the Tullibardine 500 feels unbalanced and weakly defined, with the sherry finish staying superficial. The distracting ethanol note and the short, bitter finish undermine the harmony, so the cask finish only marginally enhances the whisky’s potential.
Value for Money: Fair
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How does the 12-month sherry finish influence the taste of the Tullibardine 500?
The 12-month finish in a classic sherry cask imparts notes of fig, date, and a light sherry sweetness to the whisky. At the same time, aromas of vanilla, malt, and butter toffee emerge, which are typical for the Tullibardine 500.
Why does the Tullibardine 500 have no age statement (NAS)?
The Tullibardine 500 is a No Age Statement (NAS) whisky, meaning the bottling does not carry a specific age declaration. The distillery focuses here on the flavor and quality of the maturation in the sherry cask rather than a minimum age.
Which aromas should one particularly pay attention to in the Tullibardine 500?
On the nose, vanilla, malt, and a slight acidity from fermented fruits like apple and pear dominate. On the palate, the whisky is soft and creamy with sherry-typical notes of fig and date, although accompanied by a noticeable ethanol note.