Tullibardine's Bonded Tour with Chocolate Pairing

Tullibardine Distillery

I had the pleasure of visiting Tullibardine Distillery earlier this month. Tullibardine sits in Blackford, Perthshire, right on the edge of the Highlands, and it’s a place with a long history behind it. The site dates back to the 15th century when it operated as a brewery, famously visited by James IV of Scotland. The distillery itself opened in 1798 and, despite a few quiet periods over the years, is now a fully operational and well established single malt producer.

One of the things that stands out about this distillery is that almost all of the whisky making process takes place on site, apart from malting. That gives the team a high level of control over the spirit, and it comes across clearly when you visit. I had booked onto the Bonded Tour with Chocolate Pairing, a 90 minute experience that includes a full tour of the distillery, access to the bonded warehouse and a guided tasting at the end.

The tour was a great way to kick off proceedings, our guide, Sam, kept things relaxed and easy to follow, explaining the process clearly while moving us through the different stages of production. I will never tire of the smells and sounds of a whisky distillery! The standout part of the visit though, for me, was the bonded warehouse. Rows of casks sit quietly maturing, with American oak and European sherry casks each playing their role in shaping the whisky over time. I was also delighted to nose a few opened casks and in my view there is nothing like it and I could quite easily spend a day in a dunnage warehouse. It’s also a good opportunity to understand how much of the final flavour comes from the wood and the years spent resting.

After the tour, the focus shifted to the tasting, which is where this experience really does offer something a bit different. And if you have a sweet tooth as well as a penchant for whisky then you will be in seventh heaven! The drams are paired with chocolates from Third Sin Chocolate, a Glasgow-based chocolatier. The pairing of chocolate with whisky does work well, adding another dimension to the tasting and giving your palate some real moments of joy!

We started with Tullibardine Sovereign, a lighter style whisky that offers vanilla and cocoa butter on the nose as well as white chocolate, allspice and charred oak. This whisky was paired with a Sumptuous Sorrento Orange Soft Caramel. We then enjoyed the distillery’s Sauternes which was paired with a Yuzu and Black Cherry chocolate and finishing the trio it was a Ginger and Coconut chocolate that was paired with Tullibardine’s 18 Year Old.

At £42, the tour feels like good value. You get a full look around the distillery, access to the warehouse, a structured tasting and a small gift to take away. This was a really enjoyable experience with my tastebuds well and truly titivated with malty, chocolatey goodness! Whether you’re new to whisky or already interested, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to get a better understanding of Tullibardine’s excellent whisky.

I would also like to say a big thank you to Roslyn , Linzie and my brilliant tour guide Sam.

Find out more about Tullibardine Distillery at its dedicated listing.