Eden Mill has been around since 2012, first as a brewery and then also as a distillery two years later. But so far their whiskies have completely eluded me. Until now, that is. Today we’ll review the distillery’s core range, the Eden Mill Bourbon Cask and Eden Mill Sherry Cask.
A relatively modest operation, Eden Mill can produce up to 100,000 litres of alcohol per year. They do so in small 1,000 litre stills from Portugal, made by a company called Hoga. This is the same company that also provided Strathearn with their stills, a distillery founded around the same time as Eden Mill.
However, everything will soon change for Eden Mill. In 2018 the owners unveiled plans to move the operation to the mouth of the River Eden, for which they received planning permission in 2023. If I’m not mistaken, whisky hasn’t been produced at the original site since 2019. Or at least that’s what the Malt Whisky Yearbook says. According to this article fewer than 400 casks of whisky from the original distillery are left.
The new distillery is expected to produce just over one million litres of new-make spirit per year, a huge increase. Already a bold decision at the time, it seems even bolder now with the changing climate in whisky sales. But they’ve committed to the new distillery, so here we are.
Late last year, Eden Mill also announced a core range of sorts. It consists of the Eden Mill Bourbon Cask, the distillery’s first-ever fill bourbon maturation release, and the Eden Mill Sherry Cask. The latter is made up of 50% ex-Oloroso casks and 50% ex-Pedro Ximénez casks. Both whiskies are bottled at 46 percent
Eden Mill Bourbon Cask (46%, OB, 2024)
Nose: Rather floral and fragrant, with a touch of chalk, honey pops and draff. Also light grassy notes, gooseberry and some freshly-cut apple parts drizzled with caramel. Not a groundbreaking profile, but accessible and balanced.
Taste: Hints of brioche, vanilla custard and honey, but also some bright fruits. Lemon, certainly. Melon, maybe. And then a sprinkle of white pepper and cloves.
Finish: Short to medium. Soft fruits, but the spices remain as well. And gentle herbs.
Eden Mill Sherry Cask (46%, OB, 2024)
Nose: Hints of orange peel, maybe some lemon drizzle, and definitely caramel, toffee, butterscotch and the like. There are sultanas too, as well as a touch of cinnamon, sandalwood and apple juice.
Taste: More of the same, but sans the citrus. And also not very caramel-y. Actually, let’s start again. The palate is a continuation of the nose, but with dried fruits, shortbread and raisins taking centre stage. Gentle spices linger in the background.
Finish: Medium length. Some orange pith. Cinnamon too. Finally some roasted barley.
Photos: Brühler Whiskyhaus
