Edradour Sauternes Cask Matured 11 Years Old 2012

This official Edradour, an 11 year old, from 2012, cask 175-178, 181, 182, at 48.2%, 2695 bottles in all. Edradour is a Highland single malt from the tiny farm distillery at Pitlochry, long called Scotland's smallest. It was founded in 1825, growing out of an old farmers' cooperative in the glen above Pitlochry.

It was run through the small stills with their boil ball purifiers, for a full, oily make of dried fruit and chocolate. It was matured in a Sauternes cask, the wood working slowly into the rich malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper apple and dried fruit. Refill oak lets the rich, oily Edradour character lead the way. It once supplied blends such as House of Lords and King's Ransom. The cool Highland air of the glen gives a slow, even maturation in the small Edradour warehouses.

Bottled at a cask strength 48.2%, it is rich. Dried fruit, nut and a soft chocolate, with honeyed apricot and a candied citrus from the cask. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. The finish runs long, nutty and warming. This is a rich Highland malt from the pocket glen at Pitlochry.