Edradour 2016 Sauternes Small Batch 10 Year Old 70cl

Tiny, traditional and absolutely loaded with sherry character, Edradour has built a cult following by doing almost everything the slow and stubborn way. Hidden away in Perthshire, the distillery still feels closer to an old farm operation than a modern whisky factory, producing remarkably small quantities of whisky compared to the industrial giants elsewhere in Scotland. In fact, Edradour famously makes about as much whisky in a year as some distilleries produce in a week, which feels mildly ridiculous in the best possible way.

The whisky itself leans heavily into rich, full-bodied Highland character, with loads of dried fruit, Christmas cake, spice, honey and thick sherry influence running through much of the range. Fans of delicate, ultra-clean whisky may want to look elsewhere because Edradour tends to arrive wearing heavy boots and carrying an entire fruitcake under one arm. The distillery has become especially well known for its use of sherry casks and its refusal to chill filter or heavily manipulate the whisky, helping preserve all the texture and depth that whisky nerds get very excited about.

Alongside the classic Edradour releases, the distillery also produces the heavily peated Ballechin range, proving that this tiny operation is more than capable of delivering huge smoky flavours when it wants to. The combination of old-school production methods, tiny stills and experimental cask ageing gives the whisky a genuinely distinctive personality that stands out immediately in blind tastings.

Part of Edradour’s charm is that it still feels wonderfully handmade in an increasingly polished whisky world. The distillery buildings look like something from a postcard, the production remains deeply traditional and the whisky itself has a richness and weight that feels unapologetically old fashioned. Big flavours, tiny distillery and absolutely no interest in chasing modern trends.