Edradour 11 Years Old 2000 Straight from the Cask Burgundy Cask Finish (57.1%, OB, 436 bottles, 2011)

• Edradour Distillery
• 57.1% ABV,
• £50 for 50cl
• Score 85/100

What they say: 

Edradour 11yo straight from the cask Burgundy cask finish. Outturn 436 bottles. 57.1% ABV. Distilled 30/6/2000 hogshead matured until 22/11/2008 into Burgundy cask. Bottled 18/07/2011

What I say:

I put this into my Christmas wish list and what do you know – either I was very good that year or Santa must have been listening! I am beginning to suspect my Fiance is Santa…

Anyway I was intrigued with this for a few reasons. 1. Cask strength, 2. Unusual wine finish, 3. From Edradour – Scotland’s teeniest tiniest distillery, 4. It comes in its own cute little colour-coded crate, 5. It’s whisky!

Interesting finishes are perhaps not everyone’s cup of whisky, however I really enjoy the interesting additions to the flavour, nose and colour. Underneath is the base Edradour spirit aged for 8 years then interred into a Burgundy wine cask for 3 years.  The Burgundy [or Borgogne] region in eastern  France  typically produces renowned dry red wines from pinot noir grapes. This gives the whisky huge forest fruit and musty oak flavours and stunning colour. I tend not to water my whisky unless I have to, in this case it is well worthwhile as there are huge amounts of more flavours going on that the alcohol overpowers.

Colour:

Blood orange RED!

Nose:

Oranges and cloves.

Taste:

Warm caramel with orange, lemon and grapefruit leading to red berry jam and musky oak.

Finish:

Light & long, slightly drying with ginger apple and cinnamon.

Would I buy it again:

Maybe not until I had tried all of the other finishes, but I would definitely buy from the Edradour straight from the cask series again [in fact I already have!]. The Burgundy finish is a big yes from me, think sherry finish but with distinction and terroir.