Exceptional about this whisky is the fact that it isn’t finised after the usual maturation on bourbon or sherry casks… no, this one got the full maturation on port bodega butts, where previously port had matured in for a period of at least 20 years. So it’s a port cask matured, no two ways about it! The color is a bit like rosé wine, but a shade darker. This release is from a batch of 10 such port casks, put to sleep in November 2003.
The nose of this Edradour is simply marvelous. Layer after layer after layer something new… Like peeling an onion and finding a new aroma in each layer. Dark berries, redcurrant, gooseberries (a whole jar of berry jam). Creamy coffee liqueur (like Baileys) with quite a bit of spices.
On the palate, it’s nice and crisp with loads of fruit – exotic like strawberry and pineapple – extremely sweet (even more than on the nose) and very clean. But… unfortunately, a little bit winey.
The finish is fantastic : long and fruity. If that’s up your alley, then you’ll surely appreciate this Edradour.
It was neither chill filtered, nor colored and bottled in 2009. So it’s a young whisky. Apparently, there are already 4 releases available with both lovers and haters. Most people seem to agree that the first two releases were the best, so I was lucky, I guess. This version can still be found in some places for around 65 EUR.
@markjedi1, do you think this expression would have benefitted from another few years in the same (or another) cask before bottling? Young whiskies aren't always bad whiskies, as you know...
@dbk, that's hard to say, but I don't think so. It's already a bit vineous and I think it would only get over-winey if it were to mature further. And I agree that young whiskies aren't always bad. I've had many young whiskies that can easily compete with some oldies.