Eden Mill distillery relies in Guardbridge, about 5 km north-west of St Andrews. For many of the nineteenth century, the Haig Household operated a whisky distillery on the location. A brand new brewery was began in 2012 and so they additionally began distilling whisky and gin in 2014.
Aside from the core vary single malt, accessible from bourbon casks or sherry casks, additionally they have a restricted collection referred to as Artwork of St Andrews. A yearly launch is introduced in a particular packaging, every with its personal distinct cask maturation.
We strive the most recent 2023 launch. It’s a evenly peated spirit – the truth is the primary launched by the distillery. Maturation happened in a mixture of bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks, earlier than being completed in Grande Champagne cognac casks.
Eden Mill ‘Artwork of St. Andrews’ (46,5%, OB 2023, Grande Champagne cognac end)
Nostril: some hints of cardboard, with sawdust, oats, gin botanicals and a faint milky contact. Higher than it sounds, actually. The peat smoke is properly delicate. Then the breadiness comes out, together with gentle eucalyptus, some grape sweetness and shortbread. Crushed hazelnuts and lemon peels too.
Mouth: youngish spirit. There’s a pleasant citrusy aspect, with inexperienced apples, peaches and honey balancing out the smoke, which turns into barely acrid. Hints of juniper and ginger, together with a natural bitterness. One thing of smoky dough. Then nonetheless a light-weight cardboardy trace in direction of the tip, mixing with grapefruit peels and gin botanicals.
End: gentle woody notes, with hints of grass, just a little rye spice and flat Champagne.
It’s at all times onerous to evaluate new distilleries after a primary encounter. Is the cask mixture a bit off, does the spirit want tweaking, or is it just too early to attract conclusions? I’m not satisfied this time and the asking worth is… very bold. Nonetheless accessible from Royal Mile Whiskies as an illustration.
