Edradour Natural Cask Strength 14 Years Old 2002

An official release of Edradour, a 14 year old, from 2002, cask 1421, at 56.5%, 666 bottles in all. Edradour is a rich, oily Highland single malt made in the old farm buildings above Pitlochry. The distillery sits in a pocket glen at Balnauld, in the hills above Pitlochry in Perthshire.

It was worked through Oregon pine washbacks and tiny stills for a rich, oily spirit, for a rich, nutty spirit with a waxy depth. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the rich, oily spirit growing creamier. Ben Vrackie water and a long ferment give the rich Edradour make. It was bought in 2002 by Andrew Symington of the independent bottler Signatory Vintage. It was founded in 1825, growing out of an old farmers' cooperative in the glen above Pitlochry. Maturation in the dunnage warehouses at Pitlochry is slow and steady.

At 56.5%, undiluted, it is deep and concentrated. Dried fruit, fig and a creamy vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is rich and oily, the full bodied spirit shining through. The finish runs long, nutty and warming. This is the oily, rich malt of tiny Edradour.