Eddu 14 Years Old Batch 1 That Boutique-Y Whisky Company

1. What they say

It’s the first That Boutique-y Malt Company bottling of Eddu from the Destillerie Des Menhirs! This 14 year old French spirit is made with buckwheat, which brings an enjoyable earthiness to the flavour profile, though it is a bit harder to distil than corn, as it takes much longer to mill and it’s heavy to mash. We’d say it’s worth the extra effort, as this is fantastic stuff.

Batch 1 is a release of 224 bottles.

https://www.masterofmalt.com/spirit/distilleries-des-menhirs/eddu-that-boutiquey-malt-company-spirit/

2. Official tasting notes

• Nose: Dried citrus peels, baked earth leading into warming cumin spiciness, with honey developing underneath.
• Palate: Gingerbread, more kitchen spices (that cumin note is still there, too), brown sugar, a touch of sea salt.
• Finish: Lasting citrus and a touch of anise.

3. Details

• ABV 47.9%
• Age 14 Years Old
• Bottler That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
• Bottling Batch #1
• Category Breton Buckwheat Whisky
• Cost £119.95 from Master of Malt
• Origin Destillerie des Menhirs
• Outturn 224
• Region France
• Released 2022

4. What I say

The first Boutique-Y whisky from Destillerie des Menhirs in Brittany. Eddu’s glorious Buckwheat whisky bottled at 14 years old. This was the first stop on the Norwest Euro Express release, representing the most westerly point. As Dave (Worthington, TBWC Brand Ambassador) pointed out, Boutique-Y are reasonably unique in seeking out plenty of new world whiskies that many perhaps haven’t been bottled independently before. This really is a space that Boutique-Y whisky are filling and filling well! In fact I’ve sampled numerous new distilleries now via TBWC bottlings first.

5. The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

• Colour Full gold (10/20), rounded, medium-fine tears and medium legs.
• Nose Sweet, fresh, lemon, citrus orange, cereal grains, honey, golden syrup, oaty flapjacks, porridge, a touch earthy.
• Taste Just a hint of white pepper spice, lots of sweet honey, full-bodied, mealy cereals, flinty mineralic, earthy, husks, Edinburgh Rock and cinder toffee.
• Finish Long, a touch vaporous, sweet minerality continues, cereal and floral notes.

6. Overall

Delicious, redolent of cereal and husks from the Buckwheat this also has some sweet and mineralic nature, perhaps a trace of something metallic later on but doesn’t detract.

7. Score 87/100