Edradour 2004 Single Cask Strength

Simply outstanding. That's the word for this whisky. It begins with its natural color, a deep mahogany; a truly lovely decanter; and, of course, a superb single cask strength single malt aged in oloroso sherry casks. Edradour stands as Scotland's smallest distillery, producing a mere 600 gallons of single malt annually, with two-thirds destined for blends. Consequently, only around 200 gallons are bottled as Edradour single malt, and anyone who's sampled it knows its quality. This particular bottling was distilled in 2004 and released in early 2018, featuring a 57.2% ABV. Let's delve into the spirit: On the nose, it's a revelation. It starts with aromas of Welsh grape juice; cognac, dark chocolate, and hazelnut. Toblerone chocolate, cherries, fruitcake, molasses, and a fine aged rum. You'll also find notes of dark fruits, blackberries, figs, sherry, and red wine. Absolutely magnificent. After the initial taste, it reveals Ritter chocolate with raisins; coffee and more chocolate. A quince dessert with toffee. Astonishing. On the palate, it's equally a masterpiece. Cherries, red fruits, and peppery spice. Chili, dried fruits, and pecans. It's potent and leaves the mouth tingling. A second taste is amazing, bringing cherry syrup, pepper, tobacco, coffee, and hazelnut. The finish provides the perfect conclusion to a remarkable whisky. Tobacco, oloroso sherry, clove, ginger, very dry. A touch of sulfur and dark chocolate, with coffee notes throughout. In summary, this ranks among the finest whiskies I've encountered. I was initially considering a 99 out of 100, but a whisky companion remarked, "I simply can't fathom this is malted barley." That comment struck me as incredibly insightful. This whisky perfectly embodies the potential of single malt with exceptional craftsmanship. Therefore, my final rating is 100 out of 100. An outstanding dram. Only 699 bottles of this 2004 release exist; if you find one, seize it. Cheers!