Tullibardine distillery

Tullibardine distillery stands in Blackford, Perth and Kinross, beside the Ochil Hills and the Danny Burn. The water from the hills and burn flows into the distillery’s stills. The site has produced single malt whisky since 1949. It was closed in 1995 by Whyte & Mackay and reopened in 2003 under new owners. In 2011 the French company Picard Vins & Spiritueux bought the distillery. Three years later Picard formed Terroirs Distillers to manage the spirits business. The distillery makes several single malts, including Aged Oak Edition and Sherry Finish. These whiskies mature in oak casks that once held American bourbon or Spanish sherry. The site also produces related liqueurs finished in the same casks. A visitor’s centre welcomes guests to the working distillery. Tours explain how malt is mashed, fermented and distilled on site. Visitors walk through the still room where copper pot stills shape the spirit. The tun room holds large wooden washbacks where fermentation takes place. The bond stores hold casks stacked to the ceiling, maturing whisky for years. Bottles line the shop shelves, ready for sale. Outside, the Ochil Hills provide a green backdrop to the low stone buildings. The Danny Burn’s water still runs clear through the grounds.