Edradour 1st Fill Lagrein Casks 11 Years Old 2014

Edradour from the distillery, an 11 year old, from 2014, cask 701, 702, at 48.2%, 1710 bottles in all. Edradour is a rich Highland malt from the pocket glen at Balnauld, distilled since 1825. Under Signatory the range has grown to a wide run of sherry and wine cask bottlings.

It was worked through Oregon pine washbacks and tiny stills for a rich, oily spirit, for the rich, oily make Edradour is known for. It was matured in a Red Wine cask, the wood working slowly into the rich malt. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the oily malt, the body fuller and creamier. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. The tiny stills and worm tubs give an oily spirit that takes the cask well. It was founded in 1825, growing out of an old farmers' cooperative in the glen above Pitlochry. The worm tubs leave an oily weight that carries through the years in cask.

At a natural 48.2% it is full and oily. Chocolate, dried fruit and a waxy oil, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. The finish runs long, nutty and warming. This is the oily, rich malt of tiny Edradour.