Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Cask 750ML

Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Cask 750ML is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky finished in Burgundy wine casks, bottled at 43% ABV. This NAS expression earned a Gold Medal and 95 points at the 2023 International Wine & Spirit Competition, underscoring the quality of its distinctive Pinot Noir cask influence — a finishing technique rarely seen in Scotch whisky.

Quick Facts: ABV: 43% (86 proof)  |  Origin: Highlands, Scotland  |  NAS (No Age Statement)  |  Distillery: Tullibardine

Production & Heritage

Tullibardine Distillery sits in the town of Blackford in the southern Highlands, at the foot of the Ochil Hills, where brewing and distilling have taken place since the 15th century. The spirit is first matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, then transferred for an additional year of finishing in 228-liter barriques that previously held Pinot Noir from the prestigious Château de Chassagne-Montrachet in Burgundy, France. The name "228" refers directly to the exact liter capacity of those barriques — a detail that distinguishes this expression within Tullibardine's range of cask-finish bottlings and signals a level of specificity about provenance that few distilleries publicize.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Charred oak and vanilla arrive first, giving way to red cherries, milk chocolate, and a distinct Turkish Delight sweetness. Toasted oak and red berry notes add complexity beneath the primary fruit and confectionery layers.

Taste: The entry is creamy and slightly nutty, with hazelnuts and vanilla custard meeting orchard fruit and apple peel on the mid-palate. Red summer fruits — cranberries, raspberries, and red currants — emerge alongside honeyed oak and sweet spice, all carried by a silky, medium-bodied texture.

Finish: The finish is notably lengthy, with allspice, damsons, and lingering chocolate warmth. Orange zest and a subtle oakiness round things out, leaving a pleasant interplay of fruit and spice.

How to Drink Tullibardine 228

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal way to appreciate the Burgundy cask influence; water opens up the red fruit and custard notes without diminishing the finish. For cocktails, the wine-cask character provides a fruit-forward twist on classic templates: a Rob Roy benefits from the cherry and spice notes complementing sweet vermouth; a Blood and Sand finds a natural partner in the 228's red berry profile, which amplifies the cocktail's citrus and cherry components; and a Boulevardier made with this whisky gains a softer, fruitier backbone that balances the bitterness of Campari.

Best For

• Scotch drinkers exploring wine-cask finishes beyond the standard sherry route
• Gifting a whisky enthusiast who appreciates French wine and oak influence
• After-dinner sipping alongside chocolate or fruit-based desserts
• Building a single malt tasting flight focused on unusual cask finishes

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tullibardine 228 taste like? Tullibardine 228 delivers a creamy, fruit-forward profile dominated by red cherries, vanilla custard, and chocolate, with allspice and damsons emerging on a lengthy finish. The Burgundy cask finishing adds a distinctive layer of red berry sweetness not commonly found in Highland malts.

How does Tullibardine 228 compare to Glen Moray's wine-finished expressions? Glen Moray's wine-finished Speyside malts share a similar philosophy of secondary maturation in French wine casks, but Tullibardine 228 uses specifically sourced Burgundy Pinot Noir barriques from Château de Chassagne-Montrachet, resulting in a more pronounced red fruit and nutty character compared to Glen Moray's typically lighter, more delicate wine influence.

Is Tullibardine 228 good for sipping neat? Yes — at 43% ABV, it is bottled at an approachable strength that delivers full flavor without excessive heat, making it well-suited for neat sipping, particularly after dinner.

Where is Tullibardine 228 made? Tullibardine 228 is distilled at the Tullibardine Distillery in Blackford, in the southern Highlands of Scotland. The region has a long history of brewing and distilling, with records of alcohol production there dating to the 15th century.

What foods pair well with Tullibardine 228? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and cherry notes; soft ripened cheeses like Brie echo the creamy, nutty character; duck breast with a berry reduction mirrors the red fruit profile; apple tart matches the orchard fruit and vanilla custard notes; and charcuterie with dried cranberries plays off the spice and red berry finish.

What sizes does Tullibardine 228 come in? Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Cask is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Tullibardine 228 worth the price? Tullibardine 228 positions as a mid-range Highland single malt, and its IWSC Gold Medal with 95 points and Gold at the Scotch Whisky Masters suggest strong value within its price tier — particularly for a whisky with such an uncommon cask finish.

Why Tullibardine 228?

Burgundy cask finishing remains one of the rarest secondary maturation methods in Scotch whisky, and Tullibardine 228 is one of very few single malts to use Pinot Noir barriques sourced from a specific, named Burgundy estate — Château de Chassagne-Montrachet. That provenance-driven approach has been validated by a Gold Medal and 95 points from the IWSC in 2023, along with Gold at the Scotch Whisky Masters. The result is a Highland malt that genuinely tastes different from the sherry and port finishes that dominate the category, offering red fruit depth and a silky texture that reward attention whether served neat or in cocktails that benefit from a wine-cask backbone.