Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry oloroso
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co. Ltd
Average price: € 50.00
Official website: www.edradour.com
The distillery ‘between two rivers’ (the meaning of the Gaelic name) was established in 1825 and until not long ago boasted of being the smallest whisky distillery in Scotland, and in fact production is so minimal as to require only two to three staff present.
Founded by a syndicate of farmers, over time it passed through the hands of Pernod Ricard before ending up in those of its current owner, the independent bottler Signatory, which since 2002 has been committed to reviewing its production methods, including the abandonment of colouring and chillfiltration, launching in 2006 the peated version named Ballechin in honour of the neighbouring distillery that closed in 1927. In 2018, the construction of Edradour II was completed, another distillery next to the original one, with identical stills and washbacks, bringing production to around half a million litres per year and being able to make the two kind of new make separately.
Everything is very traditional and minimal, including the use of worm tubes to cool the alcoholic vapours and their not exactly state-of-the-art website, which makes Edradour almost unique in Scotland.
This is their base malt, matured entirely in former oloroso sherry casks.
Tasting Notes
Pencil shavings, dried prunes and figs, blackberries, sultanas and sour cherries welcome the nostrils with a discreet intensity, imbued with a definite streak of acetone that veers towards mouldy fruit over time. In the second row, more fruit (baked apple from strudel, very ripe banana, pear juice, strawberry jam), brown sugar, burnt caramel, sweet liquorice, slight spices (nutmeg, cinnamon) and roasted hazelnuts. Quite lively and full, with a metallic note that stands out along the length, the only jarring aspect of an otherwise inviting nose.
And it is this metallic and bitter side that stands out on the first sip, amidst spicy peaks of ginger, nutmeg and black pepper, with a more substantial body than the alcohol content would suggest. There is a greater incidence of red fruits, with sultanas, currants and sour cherries in the foreground, together with nuts (hazelnuts, almonds), brown sugar, and an undercurrent of baked apple that accompanies fondant, liquorice and wood with a slight salty hint.
Quite long finish of spices, sour cherries, nuts and a bitter note with vegetable veins.
On the palate, it almost manages not to betray the minimum alcohol content, but in the long run gives in under the weight of dilution, losing the strength that the nose has generously given it. A few too many off-tones in the bitter and metallic notes, but as an introduction to the distillery it augurs excellent potential.
Vote: 82/100