søndag 20. februar 2011

10 Edradours tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011

Edradour NAS 1997-? 55.8% OB Port Wood

I love that the act that the smallest distillery in scotland got one the widest ranges of special casked single malts. Having been highly impressed by a 8yo PC from a sherry butt the other day, I hope Edradour ad Port Wood can create some magic here. Lovely red hue, like cherry wine. The taste is extremely dry, red grape seeds, concentrated aromas, needs some water. With some water it doesn't improve much, gets a bit oily, the aftertaste is the biggest disappointment as it is sulphury and makes the initial palate far too short to make a real impression.

A bad cask, or as one of my theories goes, port needs peat?: 3



Edradour 20yo 1983-2003 46% OB Port

An all port casked Edradour 20yo, I'll have to say I've enjoyed some of their finished work in the Straight-from-the-Cask series very much, although I find that port cask often is in need of a more flavorful spirit not to completely dominate the taste. A nice red colour, The nose shows strong hints of smoked ham, some salt and sweet caramelized onions, say (kantareller) and spring onions. The taste is clean, woody, actually pretty fragrant with some caramel and (rødbetter). It's just a bit too modest to intrigue me, needs higher strength maybe?

Not too far from the standard ob, only less sweet: 4



Edradour 10yo 1999-2009 57.6% OB SFTC Sauternes

Another straight-from-the-cask from Signatory, which owns Edradour Distillery, so I guess that makes it an OB then? Sauternes is a sweet white dessert wine, I have tried and enjoyed some of it before. Smells very nice, sweet and tender, a bit like the Glengoyne Nectar D'Or, just with more punch, like the Fettercairn 1997 NAS CS. The taste is fresh, syrup, greens, malty with a hint of lime juice. The aftertaste is acidic and intense, a bit too much, lets try with water. It doesn't get any lighter, just a bit too intense on the finish for me, a bit too much alcohol sting.

Edradour seems to work well in red wine casks: 4



Edradour NAS 57.2% OB Chateneuf-du-Pape

Chateneuf-du-Pape is another french wine region, south-east in the country. This one has been all matured in a cask formerly carrying Chateneuf-du-Pape wine. This one smells lighter, more like some olorose sherry, just not that sweet, a tad one-dimensional. There's some sweet liquorice also. The taste is extremely concentrated, a bit like Aberlour A'Bunadh. Peppery and medicinal, not bad, but just a lot different than what I'd expect.

A good malt, but it's just not as refined as the other two: 6.5



Edradour NAS 56.9% OB Cassicaia

I believe Cassicaia is an Italian red wine, not too far from the bordeaux style of what taste is concerned. Smells a bit more spirity than the Bordeaux casked one. Lemons and unripe blackberries, very bitter and sour. The taste is sweeter and far more peppery than the bordeaux, seems almost like a vanilla bourbony Islayer. But there's this dry, prickly taste of sweet fruits, green grapes, mangos and kiwis. Another expression, but not necessarily better or worse, its in this case all a matter of personal taste.

Once again brilliant from Edradour: 8



Edradour NAS 56.5% OB Bordeaux

Well, now let's try something totally new, a vertical of CS specially maturated single malts from same distillery(!) Edradour!!! This ones all matured in a bordeaux cask, french wine then. It smells perfectly balanced, a bit sweet, a bit bitter and a bit drystings of red wine and apple vinegar. The taste is more on bittersweet white wine than red. But this is fantastic, sour pears, apples, cinnamon, bay leaves and a dry peppery aftertaste. I've always liked Glenmorangies cask experiments, but most of them were dilluted. And yes, I believe that bottling them like this just enhances even more cask influence.

Dry white apple wine? Strange as it sounds, perfect!: 8.5



Edradour NAS 1996 57.2% OB

One Edradour of natural cask strength, sample purchased from Masterofmalt.com Said to come from an Ibisco Decanter, to me, I don't care to much about what decanter of origin, but rather I'd like to know what casks been used. It's pretty dark, perhaps it's some sort of wine cask? Or as the usual 10yo, a blend of sherry and others? The taste is lingering and sweet, really young style, one of the better Edradours in my opinion. Perhaps it's a bit like Glengoyne or Fettercairn, just a bit soft when watered down, but excellent at cask strength. The smell is a bit sulphury, cinnamon, leather and honey and sun-dried tomatoes. Just the smallest hint of Cointreau, I know that sounds like an insult to every scotch, but here it isn't really. Add just a small sip of water and it's the perfect summer dram.

Jubilations: 8



Glenforres/Edradour 12yo 43% OB

The Glenforres was a malt produced at the Edradour distillery, I believe back in the 80's. By the colour I'd say there aren't much sherry matured whisky compared to todays standard OB. It smells pretty bland, bourbon, a bit vanilla, dry oak, lacquer and bitter white wine. It's peppery, vanilla and very sweet on the palate, I don't think it's a bad alternative to the fudgy sherry-dominated standard at all. The aftertaste is creamy, vanilla, wedding cake and toffee.

Edradour in a new light: 7



Edradour 12yo 46% Dougie MacLean's Caledonia Selection

Though it's been a while since I tasted it, I remember the 10yo OB from Edradour to be a marvellous dram. This one states natural colour on the label, and it's very dark, perhaps it's been in some sort of red wine cask? The nose is very fresh, herbal and minty. The taste is very flavourful, again herbs, brickdust and oak, and it has a very long and peppery aftertaste. A nice and powerful youngster that definately stands its ground against many others. With some water it becomes a bit sweeter, but doesn't moderate itself at all.

One fine example of a youngster with class: 6.5



Edradour 10yo 40% OB

Scotland's smallest distillery with only three employees produces this young, vibrant and easily drinkable malt. Smells of honey and pistachio. Tastewise it's fresh and mild, mountain air, both relaxing and really, really enjoyable.

Luxurious lightweighter: 7.5

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