Edradour 8 Years Old 2013 Cask #474 (van Wees)

An 8 year old Edradour from the Dutch bottler van Wees, distilled in 2013, from cask 474, bottled at 60.2%. Edradour is a creamy, sherried Highland single malt from one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. The distillery sits in a pocket glen at Balnauld, in the hills above Pitlochry in Perthshire.

The spirit was made in the smallest of stills and condensed in worm tubs, giving the full bodied, creamy Highland spirit. Finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building over the oily, full bodied spirit. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit rich, oily and nutty. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Long ageing turns the rich make towards dried fruit, fig and a soft spice. It was bought in 2002 by Andrew Symington of the independent bottler Signatory Vintage.

At 60.2%, undiluted, it is deep and concentrated. Dried fruit, chocolate and a nutty oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a polished oak give it depth. The finish runs long, nutty and warming. This is Edradour's full bodied, sherried Highland style.