Edradour The Fairy Flag 15 Year

I was quite surprised by how challenging it was to find a 15-year-old Edradour named "Fairy Flag". After a five-year search (sometimes opting for other whiskies, which was my error), I finally obtained it. This seems to be part of their "core range", if such a thing genuinely exists for Edradour. The appearance of this whisky, particularly its reddish hue in the Glencairn glass, immediately captures my interest. On the nose, it's absolute perfection. Pecan pie and hazelnut. Dark fruitcake, savory glazed pork, and blackberries. Strawberries and red fruits. Crunchy chocolate, espresso coffee; Christmas cake, hazelnut, and Nutella. Crushed almonds. The scent is wonderful and clean. MARVELOUS. On the palate, beautiful red fruits dominate. It has a somewhat watery texture. Sugar, red berries. Macadamia. It's akin to consuming a large quantity of raisins and berries. A pervasive wine-like character. Definitely a prominent red fruitiness. The finish is dry. Blueberries, tobacco, hay; incredibly delicious and elegant. Very winey. The spiciness is quite mouthwatering! Beautifully peppery. After a couple of sips, a bitterness emerges, reminiscent of 100% cocoa dark chocolate. Wonderful. Overall, this is a must-try. Each sip surpasses the last. Incredibly rich in flavor and complex, every note here is my favorite. My only minor critique is that it can be a bit watery on the palate. I rate this exquisite whisky 96 out of 100.

My grandmother grew up on a Texas farm during the Depression, and her family background is largely Scottish, so it's safe to say thriftiness is a defining characteristic of hers. When we went to the movies, she'd always have me sneak in snacks because she'd rather perish than spend $4 on a box of Raisinets. Why am I recounting this anecdote? Because this spirit is essentially Raisinets candy in liquid form. Raisin and chocolate intertwine on the nose, then develop into a rich, spicy palate. A subtle hint of vanilla and sweet coconut suggests some influence from American oak beyond the evident sherry notes. The finish is reasonably lengthy and pleasant, and just as you think it's concluded, the spices return for an encore performance – cinnamon, clove, cardamom. A very enjoyable dram!

The nose presents dried fruit, toasted grains, and a subtle smokiness. It has a medium body, with flavors of apple, honey, and fresh oak spices on the palate. The finish is fruity and of moderate length, with a pleasant cinnamon aftertaste. Overall, it's a decent dram, but somewhat uninspiring and overpriced for its quality ($156 CAD). Worth trying, but not a purchase for me.

This was fantastic! Just like others mentioned, it definitely has notes of raisins and dark dried fruits. I found it surprisingly not too strong when drunk neat, and was amazed by its thick, creamy texture. Letting it sit for a bit mellowed out some of the spices. The finish was long and warm. Wonderful!

While others detected raisins, I perceived fruity notes reminiscent of nail polish - not to my liking at all. There are also undertones of toasted barley, like oatmeal, with a body that is light and delicate. In my opinion, this is not a very good drink.

It's too hot for being 46%. Tastes like fruitcake with heavy raisin and wood flavors. The oak and alcohol are not well-balanced with the rest of the whiskey, making it not my preference. A few drops of water had no effect. A solid 3.