Edradour Natural Cask Strength 12 Years Old 2009 (55.5%)

An official release of Edradour, a 12 year old, from 2009, cask 8, at 55.5%, 655 bottles in all. Edradour is a Highland single malt from the tiny farm distillery at Pitlochry, long called Scotland's smallest. For years its sign read Scotland's smallest distillery; it now calls itself Scotland's little gem.

The spirit was made in the smallest of stills and condensed in worm tubs, the worm tubs lending a weighty, oily character. Finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building over the oily, full bodied spirit. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, the nutty chocolate deepening. Active wood frames the rich fruit without overwhelming the oily Highland spirit. The cool Highland air of the glen gives a slow, even maturation in the small Edradour warehouses. Maturation in the dunnage warehouses at Pitlochry is slow and steady.

At its natural 55.5% it is rich and full bodied. Dried fruit, nut and a soft chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft chocolate and a nutty oil sit behind the cask. The finish is long, oily and gently spiced. This is a creamy, nutty Highland single malt.