Malt up for top award

One of Perthshire’s newest single malt whiskies has been recognised with a prestigious award.

‘The Murray (2004)’from Blackford’sTullibardine Distillery has won a silver medal for excellent quality at this year’s International Wine and Spirit Competition.

This is the fourth award the malt (pictured), which was only released late last year, has won in 2017.

The competition received entries from nearly 90 countries worldwide, and were judged over the course of seven months.

The Murray underwent two stages of rigorous judging from a panel of industry experts, who had to double-blind taste the whiskies and give a chemical analysis.The 12-year-old Tullibardine malt impressed judges for its“brawny nose of peanut brittle and wet autumn leaves, rich apricot and vanilla flavours and delightfully smoky finish.”

John Torrance, the manager at Tullibardine Distillery, said:“The addition of yet another competitive industry award this year for The Murray is absolutely fantastic news. It showcases the excellent quality of this whisky, recognised by the most experienced of whisky experts and the consumer.”

The Murray, which was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2016, is made from ex-bourbon casks and draws on the flavours of the land and waters of the Ochil Hills where the distillery is set. It is also the first whisky in their Marquess Collection, and is named after Sir William Murray, the 2nd Marquess ofTullibardine.

Tullibardine Distillery are now looking forward to launching The Murray’s sequel later this year, which was distilled in 2005.