Whisky: Edradour 12 Year (2009)

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 56.5%

Cask: Sherry Butt

Age: 12 Years (Distilled 23 Jan. 2009, Bottled 12 April 2021)

Nose: Chocolate, coffee, and meat. Bittersweet chocolate and polished wood promised a dry, thick, oaky, and tannic experience. Meaty at times, almost gamey, as bear skin rugs and taxidermied trophies came to mind. Unctuous with gingersnap cookies, molasses, and a mature gas station coffee pot.

Palate: Full-bodied and dry with earth, spice, and chocolate. Oaky spice with molasses, pepper, cinnamon, cola, and powdered ginger. Hints of cherry and kirsch hid behind a wave of chocolate, coffee, and fig jam. Gingersnap cookies, dark roasted coffee, and dark chocolate lingered at the end.

Finish: Lingering dry notes of cherry and chocolate.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Semi-Sweet Black Forest Soda

Notes: Considering the rich dark color, even before tasting or nosing the dram, I felt I was in for some intense sherry and oak. The hue was a klaxon blaring out a warning for my taste buds— sherry bandits incoming.

Sure enough, this met expectations, with tons of sherry and oaky spices presenting on a dry, semi-sweet profile of baking chocolate, coffee, and subtle fruits. The profile transitioned beautifully as I gave it time to breathe and notes of bitter coffee and chocolate softened, allowing more ginger and fruit to appear. It reminded me a fair bit of Balcones Brujería as well as some of the recent young rocket-fuel oloroso-matured Bunnahabhain Signatory has released.

Overall, I initially tried this blind and had no idea what it was beyond a heavily sherried malt. I thought it might have been one of those young Bunnahabhain, which speaks to the fact that this drank a bit hotter than its 56.5 would typically lead me to expect. I found it an interesting contrast with some of the Ballechin I have tried, and I am more curious than ever to try the spirit with a lighter cask influence. It will shock no one who has looked at a few of my reviews over the years to read that sherry bombs are not my jam and that I am sure sherry-stans will find more to love in this dram.