Edradour Natural Cask Strength 13 Years Old 2006

Edradour from the distillery, a 13 year old, from 2006, cask 348, at 57.8%, 667 bottles in all. Edradour is a Highland single malt from the tiny farm distillery at Pitlochry, long called Scotland's smallest. It keeps the old ways, with an open cast iron mash tun, Oregon pine washbacks and worm tub condensers.

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. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper apple and dried fruit. Long ageing turns the rich make towards dried fruit, fig and a soft spice. Maturation in the dunnage warehouses at Pitlochry is slow and steady. Years in oak round the spirit, the dried fruit and chocolate deepening over the oily core.

At a natural 57.8% it is full and oily. A rich, oily orchard fruit and almond, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a polished oak give it depth. The finish is long, oily and gently spiced. This is a Highland single malt of real character.