Tullibardine 25 (1993) Small Batch (1 Barrel) (Cadenhead's)

Rating: 18/23 I opened this to celebrate my second COVID vaccine dose! A sweet, nectar-like treat felt deserved. Nose: I detect a grassy maltiness with some honey and perhaps milk. Palate: A peppery heat strikes immediately, followed by light dry grass notes, maybe some ginger and clove. I'm unsure if the white pepper seems harsh. I'm not impressed by this initial warmth, except by the fact that it comes from a 45.4% scotch, which I expected to be milder. This first impression reminds me of my bottle of Glen Grant 26 (1992) bottled by Cárn Mór and also a 26-year-old single grain. Moving past that, I find sweet, rich, nectarous, tropical flavors. Honey, banana, pear, baked apple. A hint of cinnamon appears after a bit, though the white pepper definitely remains. Apart from the burn, the herbal quality of the white pepper provides nice balance, preventing it from being too sweet. It's thick and somewhat oily, complementing the honey and completing its less sweet aspect. The oiliness also oddly reminds me of an Irish whiskey. There's a bit of diluted milk lingering at the bottom, blending into a slightly musty vanilla funk reminiscent of Westward. I wouldn't call it incredibly complex, but it's very enjoyable with its sweet, full, tropical fruitiness. Finish: The white pepper lingers with the ginger and clove, the latter being quite numbing. I notice a hint of turmeric and perhaps a tiny bit of cinnamon. Traces of tropical fruits also come through, and even a little of that oily honey persists. The extended finish becomes very herbal and grassy. - Conclusion - This is a good, but not exceptional, scotch. Compared to Glenfarclas 25, I find the Glenfarclas to be more refined, complex, and decadent. This is somewhat hindered by its white pepper burn. That element is too strong for the rest of the profile and doesn't quite fit. It possesses a pleasant maturity (aside from potentially the white pepper) and is sweet and full in a decadent manner. The oiliness and fruitiness evoke Irish whiskey, leading me to compare it with Yellow Spot. Yellow Spot tastes immature and thin by contrast. The oiliness in Yellow Spot isn't as pleasing because it lacks a good honey note to blend with. The tropical fruitiness here is clearly more robust, although Yellow Spot might be slightly more complex in this regard. Yellow Spot tastes younger, with more of its alcohol evident. This is significantly better than Springbank 12 Cask Strength, and Tyrconnell 15 Madeira doesn't compare either. Considering all this, it cannot be rated lower than an 18, as it clearly surpasses Yellow Spot (rated 17, sometimes 18). A 20 seems the highest possible score. It will likely be an 18 or 19 when the bottle is finished. I'm starting with an 18 after careful thought.

Upon opening this sample, the aroma was immediately striking. It featured floral notes, fruit nectar, and overall sweetness. Eager to taste it! After some rest, the nose presented manuka honey, stewed pears and apples, honeydew melon, vanilla, and some intriguing spices that were hard to identify. The palate was delicate, slightly creamy, oily, and waxy, with sweet pears, honeydew, hints of tropical fruit, and those same curious spices. The finish lingered, showcasing sweet fruits and gentle spices. It didn't quite match the powerful initial impression from the bottle, but it was very enjoyable. The empty glass held a blend of all the best scents, offering a divine experience for a short while. Gratitude to a friend for the sample.