Tullibardine expands with a Marsala cask finish

Tullibardine has unveiled a new limited-edition single malt to join its award-winning Marquess Collection – The Murray Marsala Finish.

The expression was distilled in 2006 and bottled this year at 46 per cent volume, building on the growing range of wood finishes to be crafted at the Highland Perthshire distillery.

Inspired by cask experimentation, Tullibardine’s Master Blender has led the creation of the exclusive release. Following traditional maturation in first-fill bourbon barrels, the whisky has spent an additional year in Sicilian Marsala wine casks. The result is a rose-tinged appearance with oaky and spicy aromas on the nose. When tasted, the whisky is reminiscent of plump summer fruits, malted biscuits and chewy strawberry candy. Creamy orange lingers on the finish.

The Murray Marsala Cask Finish is the fourth whisky to join Tullibardine’s Marquess Collection, which includes the industry-renowned Murray 2004 and 2005 expressions. The Collection unveiled its first wood finish earlier this year, The Murray Châteauneuf-du-Pape, mirroring the distillery’s focus on experimenting with different casks and wood types.

Keith Geddes, Master Blender at Tullibardine Distillery, said: “It’s another exciting moment for Tullibardine to be announcing The Murray Marsala Cask Finish – a whisky that pays tribute to our story and continues to experiment with new wood types to create a complex and delicious single malt.

“It’s a superb release, handcrafted by the dedicated workforce based at this small artisan distillery. We have sourced delicious and sweet Sicilian Marsala wine casks, which have been filled with our signature single malt and left to mature for a little over a year.

“As with previous releases, it is a glorious illustration of the versatility of Tullibardine and our efforts to experiment to produce propositions that suit both new and existing consumers alike.”

The Marquess Collection celebrates the distillery’s heritage and strong link with the hamlet of Tullibardine. There have been many famous figures bearing the title of the Marquess of Tullibardine for centuries including Sir William Murray, the second Marquess of Tullibardine, who fought in the first Jacobite rebellion at the battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. In 1745, he was chosen by Bonnie Prince Charlie to unfurl the Royal Standard at Glenfinnan, announcing the Prince as the rightful King of Scotland