Edradour 7 Year Old 2018 – No.2 Inaugural Release (Signatory) 70cl 57,1%

Edradour 7 Year Old 2018 – No.2 Inaugural Release 57.1% is the first official bottling from Edradour’s new stillhouse, Edradour No.2 – a milestone in the distillery’s story. Distilled in 2018 and matured for seven years in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts, it was bottled at cask strength 57.1% as part of Edradour’s 200th anniversary celebrations. The result is a richly sherried Highland single malt, bold, oily and packed with dark fruit and spice.

Producer – Edradour & No.2 stillhouse

Nestled near Pitlochry in the Highlands, Edradour is famed for its small-scale, traditional production. To increase capacity while preserving the house style, a second distillery – Edradour No.2 – was built on the same site, using the same small pot stills, worm tubs and wooden washbacks as the original. The No.2 Inaugural Release proves that the character is intact: dense texture, big sherry influence and a distinctly old-school charm.

Nose

The nose is rich, dark and unmistakably sherry-driven:

• heaps of dried fruits – raisins, figs, dates and dark berries

• honeyed figs, date syrup, cherry compote and fruitcake notes

• chocolate-coated nuts, milk chocolate, a touch of leather and polished wood

• warm baking spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, clove – with a hint of tobacco and brown sugar

Palate

On the palate, it is full-bodied, oily and powerful, with the cask strength clearly present but well controlled:

• a big, bold arrival of raisins, dried berries, cherry chocolate and stewed plums

• treacle toffee, dark caramel, chocolate fondant and roasted nuts at mid-palate

• plenty of sherry spice – nutmeg, clove, gentle pepper and oak spice

• subtle leather and tobacco notes in the background, adding depth and maturity

A dash of water opens the whisky up, bringing more red fruit, creamier chocolate and a softer, rounder mouthfeel.

Finish

The finish is long, warming and very satisfying:

• waves of cocoa, dark chocolate and rich dried fruit

• nutmeg, baking spice, tobacco leaf and toasted oak

• a lingering syrupy sweetness slowly giving way to a drier, spicy, chocolatey end

Serving & style

Edradour 7 Year Old 2018 – No.2 Inaugural Release is best enjoyed neat in a tulip-shaped glass, with a little time to breathe. Given the 57.1% ABV, adding a few drops of water is recommended to unlock the full range of fruit and spice.

An excellent choice for sherry lovers and Edradour fans alike – and a particularly collectable dram as the first-ever release from the new No.2 stillhouse.