【Exclusive Interview】Roslyn Nuttall-Jones – Tullibardine Distillery

Tullibardine Distillery is an independent distillery located at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. It is one of a few distilleries that conducts all the processes of making whisky on-site, excluding malting. With a history of overcoming mothballing, it has evolved into a brand encompassing blended and single-malt whisky, producing a key malt of Highland Queen and its signature single malt, Sovereign.

This time, Dear WHISKY conducted the interview with Roslyn Nuttall-Jones, a marketing manager at Tullibardine. She introduces us to the history of Tullibardine Distillery and the philosophy and craftmanship behind its whisky-making. The article also features Roslyn herself by highlighting her career, memorable moments working at the distillery, and future outlooks.

The Basic Information of Tullibardine Distillery

Company’s Name	Tullibardine Distillery
Year of Establishment	1947
Owner	Picard Vins & Spiritueux
Location	Tullibardine Ltd. Blackford Perthshire United Kingdom PH4 1QG
Official Website	Tullibardine Distillery

About Tullibardine Distillery

The origin of the distillery

Dear WHISKY：
When was Tullibardine Distillery established?

Roslyn：
The distillery was founded in 1947 and opened in 1949. At that time, it was the first distillery to be built in Scotland since 1900.

Dear WHISKY：
Who is the founder of Tullibardine Distillery?

Roslyn：
William Delmé-Evans, a distillery specialist and later credited with creating Jura and Glenallachie, established the distillery. He visited the location in Perthshire’s Ochil Hills and found that the mineral-rich character of the water from nearby springs was perfect for distillation.

Mothballing re-positioned it as a single malt brand

Dear WHISKY：
How does the experience of mothballing between 1994 and 2003 influence Tullibardine Distillery?

Roslyn：
It has allowed us to re-position the distillery and our whisky as a single malt brand. Prior to the site closure, Tullibardine was associated as a component of blended whisky and would not have been typically recognized as a brand name. We now benefit from not only a rich history and heritage but also a fresh approach and brand story with craft at the heart of all of our processes.

The Environment around the Distillery

Dear WHISKY：
How does the location of the distillery influence whisky production?

Roslyn：
We are ideally located at the foot of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire for our water source. The quality and purity of the water are the primary reasons the distillery was opened in Blackford.

Dear WHISKY：
How do you care for and be involved with the community around the distillery?

Roslyn：
We support a number of local initiatives, for example, the sponsorship of the local ‘forest school.’

The Ownership by Terroir Distillers

Evolution of the site operation

Dear WHISKY：
How has Tullibardine Distillery evolved since its purchase by Terroir Distillers?

Roslyn：
Tulllibardine has been through the hands of several owners since Delmé-Evans, but the most significant evolution has been with Terroir Distillers since 2011. It has expanded the space to encompass the full site, adding the bottling hall, cooperage, and warehouses, as well as great leaps forward in terms of liquid control and quality.

Dear WHISKY：
What role does Tullibardine Distillery play in Terroir Distillers?

Roslyn：
Tullibardine is one of Terroir Distillers’ biggest brands, so it is a key part of the overall business.

Improvement in cask portfolio

Dear WHISKY：
How did the ownership of Terroir Distillers change the Tullibardine Distillery?

Roslyn：
The vineyards that Terroir Distillers owned have brought us access to ex-wine barrels and further developed our cask finish portfolio.

Dear WHISKY：
How do you use the vineyards?

Roslyn：
We use it as an avenue for sharing casks. We are able to use it to mature some of our finishes, including Pinot Noir for our 228 expressions, and we’ve also experimented with alternate casks, including Louis Royer Cognac.

Whisky Production at Tullibardine

Quality, the primary focus

Dear WHISKY：
What is the philosophy behind whisky production at Tullibardine?

Roslyn：
Everything we do at the distillery is focused on the quality of the liquid. We pay great attention to every step of the production process to ensure that our new make spirit is of an exceptional standard.

Dear WHISKY：
What sets Tullibardine whisky apart from other distilleries?

Roslyn：
We are one of only a few distilleries in Scotland where all processes take part on-site, except malting. So, we can proudly say that from still to store, we manage every drop of our pure highland gold with great care and attention. Also, our portfolio of whiskies has something for everyone, from non-age statement whisky (NAS), cask finishes, to limited editions and old & rare expressions. We hope that our customers recognize the quality of the liquid for the accessible price point, too.

All processes conducted on-site

Dear WHISKY：
What is the strength of having most of the processes of whisky-making on-site?

Roslyn：
We can have better control by overseeing every aspect of the whisky-making process. It allows us to be agile, test new innovations, and experiment with casks and finishes easily. Also, we can easily make the necessary changes if required and keep craftsmanship in every aspect of what we do.

Flavours of whisky from Tullibardine Distillery

Dear WHISKY：
What are the characteristics of your whisky flavours? 

Roslyn：
Tullibardine is a full-bodied expression bursting with vanilla sweetness and notes of fresh fruit, culminating in a smooth, balanced finish. Our core range offers a range of finishes – Sauternes, Burgundy, and Sherry as well as fully matured in first-fill bourbon.

Dear WHISKY：
How are they different from each other in your whisky selection?

Roslyn：
Each bottling will contain that signature vanilla sweetness and balanced finish but will open up a variety of different flavour notes – a sweetie shop of whiskies if you will!

The secrets behind the collection aged for many years

Dear WHISKY：
Why do you mainly produce whisky that is aged for relatively long years?

Roslyn：
Overall, we find that Tullibardine takes to wood very well, meaning it can stay in a cask for relatively long periods without being overpowered. Although our Signature Range is NAS, we don’t use a lot of very young whisky in these, as we know the optimum ages for each of the expressions. We also have stock of some very old & rare whisky in our warehouse, which we like to release as our Custodian Collection, and we regularly get positive feedback that the character is still dominant and the oak hasn’t overtaken it.

As a key malt of Highland Queen

Dear WHISKY：
How much of the whisky production in Tullibardine Distillery goes to Highland Queen?

Roslyn：
Highland Queen is the spiritual blend of Tullibardine, but the exact recipe and proportions for the blended range are proprietary.

Dear WHISKY：
What makes Tullibardine adaptable to blended whisky?

Roslyn：
Tullibardine is a very typical highland malt whisky that lends itself to being a Single Malt or a strong blend component, highlighting the citrus and floral notes of our malt.

Malting to Cask Selection

Where to source malts

Dear WHISKY：
Where do you source malts?

Roslyn：
We don’t only use one Maltster, so we don’t have a precise location, but it gets delivered to the distillery six times per week.

Type of casks used at Tullibardine Distillery

Dear WHISKY：
What types of casks are used at Tullibardine, and in what proportions?

Roslyn：
We use a variety of butts, hoggies, barrels and barriques at the distillery. The vast majority will be first-fill bourbon casks as all our whisky starts life in first-fill bourbon, then we’ll have a good number of Sherry butts followed by Sauternes and Pinot Noir barriques as these form the finishes of our core range.

Dear WHISKY：
Who chose the casks?

Roslyn：
Our Distillery Manager and our Blending Analyst will choose the casks. They nose them to find any faults, off-notes, taints to decide whether it fits within the character profile for Tullibardine.

About Mrs. Roslyn Nuttall-Jones

Carrer before encountering the whisky industry

Dear WHISKY：
Could you give us a brief introduction of yourself?

Roslyn：
I am the marketing manager at Tullibardine. I’ve worked at the distillery for just over two years and look after all marketing activity for the scotch brands – Tullibardine, Highland Queen, and Muirhead’s.

Dear WHISKY：
What led you to pursue a career in the whisky industry?

Roslyn：
The first job I took was in the on-trade magazine, the Dram. In 2010, I learned about the whisky industry; simultaneously, I started going to tastings with my Dad, a big whisky fan. It was when I moved to London, where I visited lots of whisky events and festivals, that I knew I wanted to work in the industry to turn my interests into my everyday work.

Dear WHISKY：
How has your previous career in whisky and other industries influenced you today?

Roslyn：
It took me a while to get into whisky after working in the media, outdoor clothing, and homeware, but since I have, I’ve never looked back. The whisky industry is the best community I’ve ever been part of – everyone is so passionate about what they do, and it has reinforced that same sense of pride in all the work I do now. I love applying the skills I forged over the years to something I am so deeply passionate about.

Experiences at Tullibardine Distillery

Dear WHISKY：
What motivated your decision to work at Tullibardine Distillery?

Roslyn：
I moved back to Scotland just before the pandemic after seven years in London, and I had always had it in my mind that I would work at a distillery eventually. Since the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance!

Dear WHISKY：
What aspect of your work at Tullibardine Distillery are you most proud of?

Roslyn：
I am proud of getting involved with new product development. It’s not something I had the opportunity to do until I joined Tullibardine, but it’s something that’s always fascinated me. We recently launched a new 18-year-old expression and a redesigned 15-year-old, which I led the packaging design. It has just won a Master medal at the Spirits Business Design & Packaging Awards 2023, so that’s a very proud moment for me.

Dear WHISKY：
Can you share a memorable moment from your time at the distillery?

Roslyn：
As part of an exclusive event, we hosted a tasting at the top of the Wallace Monument in Stirling on a blustery night in September. They turned the monument gold for us, and luckily, the wind died down right in time for us to go out at the top and have a dram. The views and the whisky were exceptional!

Dear WHISKY：
Do you have a favourite Tullibardine Distillery whisky bottle?

Roslyn：
It’s a tough choice, but my favourite is probably The Murray Triple Port.

Future Prospects

Dear WHISKY：
What are the upcoming goals for Tullibardine Distillery?

Roslyn：
We’ll keep working to maintain brand momentum and improve Tulliabrdine’s global visibility.

Dear WHISKY：
For you personally, what do you see yourself in the future?

Roslyn：
A lot of the work I’ve been doing at Tullibardine is to share our story with the world and remind everyone who we are, as we were previously not so great at getting ourselves out there. Therefore, my personal goal is to keep improving brand perception and get as many people as possible to try and fall in love with our liquid.

Message for Dear WHISKY readers

Dear WHISKY：
Could you give our readers a message?

Roslyn：
Happy New Year! Have a great 2024 and all the drams it will bring.

At Last

Roslyn shared the story of Tullibardine Distillery with her pride in working in the whisky industry, where “Everyone is so passionate about what they do.” Tullibardine attracts such passionate people and keeps on expanding its flavors to achieve more global visibility. With its continuous effort and passion for whisky, the year 2024 must bring a great leap forward for Tullibardine to the goal it envisions.