Edradour 12 Years Old 2003 Natural Cask Strength 11th Release

By Barry Bradford on November 19, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

Edradour 12 Year Old 2003 11th Release Bourbon Cask Matured (61.7%, OB, Bourbon Cask, 1741 Bottles, 2016)

ABV: 61.7%
Age: 12 Years old
Bottling: OB, Natural Cask Strength, Ibisco Decanter
Category: Single malt scotch whisky
Cost: £72.95
Origin: Edradour distillery
Vintage: 2003

What they say

A cask strength, bourbon cask matured 12 year old Edradour single malt Scotch whisky presented in Ibisco decanters. It was distilled in November 2003 and bottled in January 2016 – 1,741 bottles were produced.

Master of Malt tasting notes:

Nose: Crumbly caramel, Custard Creams and black pepper crackers.
Palate: Grassier than the nose would suggest, but still just as vanilla-forward.
Finish: Lightly spiced, with a little bit of red berries.

What I say

Another Natural Cask Strength expression from Edradour. I love these Ibisco Decanter edition which always seem to be bursting with cask influence, either bourbon or sherry. This is the 11th release Bourbon cask matured. Another 2003 vintage matured for 12 years – this one produced rather a large amount of bottles so I suspect numerous casks were used/ married together to make this one?

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Bright gold (11/20), rare fine tears and thin legs.
Nose: Vanilla, butter, barley, some fruity apple, polish, gentle oak wood, toasted coconut, banana, green and fresh, with water masses of vanilla.
Taste: Thick and sugary/rich, syrup-like, apple and apple juice, candied ginger root, some spirity and spiced white pepper, when reduced sweeter with vanilla custard and cream.
Finish: Medium, sweet, creamy, woody, warming/reflux.

Overall

Straightforward, massive bourbon maturation, hints of apples, cereal and butter from the spirit but this is mostly cask for me, takes water very well.