On the 18th October 2023 I took part in another incredible tweet tasting with Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire (link new window) and A.D Rattray (link new window) with some of the releases from their latest Cask Collection, No 71.
In the lineup on the evening were the following whiskies:
Tullibardine 2010 - 12 Year Old
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel No: 652696 for 9 Years then Ex-Longmorn Barrel for 34 Month at 55.1% ABV
Tamdhu 2013 -10 Year Old
Matured in a Bourbon Hogshead No: 354 at 65% ABV
Annandale 2015 - 8 Year Old
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel No: 156 for 8 Years at 57.2% ABV
Balblair 2011 - 12 Year Old
Matured in a Sherry Butt No: 635 for 11 Years with a finish in a 1st Fill Oloroso Butt for 1 year. 57.4%
Secret Islay 2016 - 7 Year Old
Matured in a 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead No: 302390 at 60.4%
The Cask Collection 71 also features other releases that weren't part of the tasting, all the whiskies were released for general sale on the 18th October and can be found on the A. D Rattray website via this link (new window)
Onto the tasting
The whiskies were sent out ahead of the tasting by A. D. Rattray in a lovely presentation box, available to purchase for £35 from their webshop.
The format of the Tweet Tasting is straight forward, the host Steve Rush, guides us through each release, providing further details about each whisky, we first nose the whisky giving our thoughts, before we move onto tasting the malt, then should we wish, provide notes on the influence of water on the the whisky before continuing onto the next dram.
Tullibardine 2010 12 Year Old
On the Nose:
Vanilla Honey, caramel, flourishes of candied citrus peel, liquorice & cardamom then rye bread.
It’s quite peppery but not from alcohol which is there but restrained.
With water it becomes more green with more spice from cardamom.
Onto the taste:
Its Sweet lemon honey, with an immediate black pepper & chilli kick.
Then milk & dark chill chocolate & a citrus thread throughout.
Alcohol is providing a lovely warming sensation adding extra chilli.
With water palate, it’s liquorice then fresh hot rye bread with sunflower seeds offering up more of that warming sensation.
The Finish:
Oaky, spicy & a touch nutty.
@TheWhiskyWire @ADRattrayWhisky #ADRattrayWhisky #TweetTastings
Tamdhu 2013 10 Year Old
On the Nose:
Biscuity malt, lemon cheesecake, lemon curd, crystalline ginger and rye bread.
With water the nose has damp hay & liquorice & a sweeter spicy kick
On the Palate:
Sweet & syrupy, citrus honey, spice of rye, mace & cardamom
With water the palate is sweeter, creamy vanilla custard, chilli & ginger ale.
The Finish:
Drying oak, touch floral & black pepper.
@TheWhiskyWire @ADRattrayWhisky #ADRattrayWhisky #TweetTastings
Annandale 8 Year Old
On the Nose:
Sherbet lemon, citrus & tropical fruit oils, vanilla & marzipan. Very bright & fresh with a zing.
With water the Sherbet lemon is more intense there is also a floral element.
On the Palate:
It is Sweet, syrupy, lemon boiled sweets with a chilli sherbet filling. Sweet & sour with a touch of oriental spices.
With water: Sweeter & more citrus with vanilla.
The Finish:
Peppery oak, lemon meringue & flashes of ginger.
@TheWhiskyWire @ADRattrayWhisky #ADRattrayWhisky #TweetTastings
Balblair 2011 12 Year Old
On the Nose:
Dark Fruit with a herbaceous backdrop, mint, cherry cola with fizzy sherbet.
Very lively.
With water: Billowing icing sugar, lemon rind, brandy snaps & Christmas pudding.
On the Palate:
Sweet & syrupy, fruit cake & spice like clove, nutmeg, cardamom & ginger. The cola returns as a thick syrup with black tea & a touch espresso.
With water the palate is Caramel sweet mince pies, lemon custard, pine nuts & dark Bournville cocoa powder.
The Finish:
The espresso builds with dry oak & bitter dark chocolate.
@TheWhiskyWire @ADRattrayWhisky #ADRattrayWhisky #TweetTastings
Secret Islay 7 Year Old
On the Nose:
Citrus peat, almond & orange oils. Ginger & cinnamon. Charred cod.
With water: Cola cubes, strawberry laces & wax.
On the Palate:
Syrupy, charcoal & coal dust. Burnt vanilla custard. Pencil shavings. Citrus.
With water is becomes Gooseberry, Corriander Seed & new Barbour waxed jackets
On the Finish:
Flamed oak, ash & bbq smoked tropical fruit.
@TheWhiskyWire @ADRattrayWhisky #ADRattrayWhisky #TweetTastings
This was another fantastic whisky selection, the standouts were the Tullibardine and the Annandale, a first tasting of this distillery for me and it did not disappoint. Both choices suprised me as I normally prefer Sherry influenced whiskies but the Bourbon casks with a slightly lower abv than the other in the tasting just had the edge.
A huge thanks to both Steve Rush and A.D. Rattray from allowing me onto this tasting.
