2006 Edradour Bourbon Cask Matured 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

From Speyside to the Lowlands the road finds Pitlochry and whisky! Picture-book settings end in a fairy tale-like town, home to Edradour, a tiny farm-to-bottle operation that maintains its place as Scotland’s smallest distillery (disputed by Strathearn). No computers make decisions here, just two men who turn levers and run the stills using smell and sight alone. The nineteenth century charm extends to open mash tuns, oregon pine washbacks and a second distillation that takes place in the smallest traditional still in Scotland (the area of copper exposed to the wash is high, so the quality of new make is too.)

The owners are the same names behind the Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Company, kickstarted by Andrew and Brian Symington in 1988, who subsequently purchased the distillery in 2002. The youngest whisky that Edradour sells remains the familiar 10-year-old (old for such a tiny facility), however Edradour creates over twenty-five drams. As one of a handful of privately owned strongholds (think Springbank, Glenfarclas et al), independence lends itself to small batches and experimentation made all the more compelling by a hands-on, centuries old approach. The ten year old is just the beginning. Right now, these boys clearly have access to some top-notch Sherry casks. We have managed to secure several limited edition / cask strength / indie expressions which to our knowledge have never before been bought to Australia. (While some of the packaging harks back to the 1970s, it conveys the ethos of the place). At these prices, now is the time to get to know another side of Edradour.

This 100% first-fill Bourbon cask matured edition is a First Release. The whisky, which is soft gold in colour, shows all the classic attributes of Edradour, enriched by the soft vanilla, tangerine and coconut notes one typically associates with Bourbon maturation. Presented in a handsome decanter style bottle, this is an all natural malt - cask strength and un-chill filtered. Distilled 2006 and bottled in 2017.

Note: cask number and proof may vary.

Tasting note: [Second release] Bright gold. Beyond the initial flare of alcohol, there’s lots of cocoa and dark chocolate to the nose, as well as touches of manuka honey; 3-4 minutes adds milk chocolate and trace honeycomb. A spicy, full throttle style; the malt laced with green peppercorns and vanilla sweetness. Finish is robust, firmish, long with the sugars returning late in the aftertaste. This can take a hell of a lot of water. One for those who like it spicy. 59.8% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... [previous batch tasted] “Fascinating, top quality whisky. I am really going to enjoy sharing this with friends.”
- Ralfy.com 92 points