Edradour 2003 Chardonnay Cask

An official release of Edradour, a 7 year old, from 2003, at 46%, 1600 bottles in all. Edradour is a rich Highland malt from the pocket glen at Balnauld, distilled since 1825. A rare Morton refrigerator still cools the wort, one of the last in use in Scotland.

Made in the smallest of stills and condensed in worm tubs, the worm tubs lending a weighty, oily character. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending vanilla and a little coconut. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (light caramel) over the creamy make. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. A small distillery and a hands on approach shape every cask by hand. The distillery sits in a pocket glen at Balnauld, in the hills above Pitlochry in Perthshire. It is one of the smallest traditional distilleries in Scotland, long run by just two or three hands.

At 46% it is smooth and rich. A rich, oily orchard fruit and almond, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Fig, nut and a creamy malt fill the middle. Dried fruit, chocolate and a soft oak see out a long finish. This is a rich, oily Highland single malt.