Edradour 10 Years Old 2003 Cask #139 (LMDW)

An Edradour of a 10 year old chosen by the Paris house La Maison du Whisky, distilled in 2003, from cask 139, bottled at 54.6%, one of 235 bottles. Edradour is a Highland single malt from Perthshire, traditional and tiny, now Scotland's little gem. Its water comes from the Ben Vrackie springs in the hills above the distillery.

It was worked through Oregon pine washbacks and tiny stills for a rich, oily spirit, for the rich, oily make Edradour is known for. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the oily make lead. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, the nutty chocolate deepening. A gentle maturation suits the oily make, the nutty richness growing with time. The tiny stills and worm tubs give an oily spirit that takes the cask well. For years its sign read Scotland's smallest distillery; it now calls itself Scotland's little gem.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.6%, it is rich. Chocolate, dried fruit and a waxy oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is rich and oily, the full bodied spirit shining through. The close is oily and warming, fruit over a gentle oak. This is a Highland single malt of real character.