Edradour Sauternes Cask Matured – Small Batch 10 Years Old 2016

Edradour from the distillery, a 10 year old, from 2016, at 46%. Edradour is a rich Highland malt from the pocket glen at Balnauld, distilled since 1825. It keeps the old ways, with an open cast iron mash tun, Oregon pine washbacks and worm tub condensers.

It was made in the smallest of stills and condensed in worm tubs, building the creamy Edradour style. It was matured in a Sauternes cask, the wood working slowly into the rich malt. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, the nutty chocolate deepening. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. The tiny stills and worm tubs give an oily spirit that takes the cask well. Signatory's wide cask range gives the small distillery an unusual variety of finishes. Years in oak round the spirit, the dried fruit and chocolate deepening over the oily core.

At 46% it is smooth and rich. A full, fruity sweetness, with honeyed apricot and a candied citrus from the cask. Soft chocolate and a nutty oil sit behind the cask. The finish is long, oily and gently spiced. This is a rich, oily Highland single malt.