Edradour 10 Year Review
In-Depth Review
For many years Edradour was known as the smallest distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. And they were proud of that fact. So much so, it seems like they may be in denial that no longer true. That title is now owned by Strathearn Distillery. Maybe. Strathearn Distillery now says it’s “probably” the smallest distillery in Scotland. But regardless, Edradour still remains tiny. So tiny in fact that they only have a handful of employees on staff and can only produce 600 liters a week. Compare that with Glenfiddich which can churn out more than 13 million liters a year, and you can see that Edradour still remains quite small.
Even after being bought by the Signatory brand in 2002, Edradour keeps to its traditional ways. For example, while many other brands have moved to more modern and efficient systems, Edradour still uses traditional worm tub condensers. The core range remains rather limited as a result – but includes a 10 year old at 40% (chill filtered), a 10 year at 46% and un-chill filtered and a 12 year called Caledonia. Today I will be diving into a 200ml version of the base 10 year chill filtered example that comes in at 40% ABV.
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 40%
Cask: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks
MSRP: $60
Distillery Name: Edradour
Review Date: 3/29/21
Color: Dark caramel – almost tawny
Nose: The nose starts the show in a big way. Thick, musty notes of overripe fruits and an earthy texture (can a nose have texture?) that feels a little frenetic at times. There’s a lot going on here. Overripe banana, pears, a slight metallic ting and a deep molasses sweetness. The impact of the sherry is evident everywhere, with the nose bursting with rancio notes and that typical sherry funk. It’s hard to believe that this clocks in at only 40% with a nose so bold.
Palate: The palate is straight up sherry bomb. Nothing subtle about it – it’s big, brash, in your face sherry. There’s a clear rancio funk going on here, but not as pronounced as the nose. The palate starts off with bright, crisp white wine before almost immediately dipping into dark notes of sultanas, grapes, dates, and a rum sweetness. And it is sweet. Almost cloyingly so. But the mouthfeel is a high point – with the 40% ABV punching way above its weight. In the background remains a heavy layer of sherry funk, with notes of mulch and charred wood.
Finish: Medium length finish. The sweetness from the palate doesn’t entirely subside as it moves into the finish. But it’s not until the finish that you begin to experience any heat or spice. Black pepper, cinnamon red hots, more red orchard fruits, and a touch of acidity all linger until the next sip.
Final Thoughts: Edadrour 10 is an interesting journey. None of the branding on the bottle would lead you to believe you’re in for a sherry bomb of a whisky, but just take one whiff and strap in. That sherry character is evident throughout the experience, so if you’re looking for a clean, crisp refreshing ex-bourbon barrel Speysider, keep looking. I love that it’s so unapologetically sherry. But at times it’s hard to hide some of the rough edges of this 10 year old. I truly wonder how many ex-bourbon barrels they actually did throw in here because I can’t imagine how aggressively sherry this would have been if they only used sherry barrels in this blend. There is wave after wave of flavor here, but at times it can feel disjointed. Almost like a jazz band all playing different songs at the same time. All of those can be great on their own – but can sometimes feel a bit touch to listen to if hitting you all at once.
