Eden Mill distillery is predicated 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 positioning. A brand new brewery was began in 2012 they usually additionally began distilling whisky and gin in 2014.
Other than the core vary single malt, out there from bourbon casks or sherry casks, in addition they have a restricted collection known as Artwork of St Andrews. A yearly launch is offered in a particular packaging, every with its personal distinct cask maturation.
We attempt the newest 2023 launch. It’s a calmly peated spirit – in truth the primary launched by the distillery. Maturation befell 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 mild 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 the direction of the tip, mixing with grapefruit peels and gin botanicals.
End: mild woody notes, with hints of grass, a bit of rye spice and flat Champagne.
It’s all the time exhausting to guage 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 formidable. Nonetheless out there from Royal Mile Whiskies as an example.
