Elsburn Distillery Edition 10 y.o. - Batch 003

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 48% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

The ten-year-old Distillery Edition brings together two types of sherry: the whisky from Batch 003 matured entirely in European oak casks that had previously held Oloroso or Pedro Ximenez for years. This is full-term sherry cask maturation rather than a subsequent finish. The first-fill casks come from Jerez in Spain.

The malt composition comprises 95% unpeated malt and 5% chocolate malt, which is also unpeated. Raisins, dried tropical fruits, plum compote and fruitcake contribute to its fruity, malty character. Dark chocolate and caramel complement these impressions; the whisky is lightly smoky.

Batch 003 was bottled in 2026 at 48% and comprises 750 bottles. The whisky has no added colouring and is not chill-filtered. Each bottle contains 0.7 litres and comes in a wooden box.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, vanilla pastries and nectarines mingle with dates and raisins. Cinnamon, allspice and anise add spice, while caramel and cream sweets provide sweet accents.
• Palate: Rich fruit compote and sweet vanilla lead the palate. Subtle toasted oak notes accompany orange marmalade, liquorice, malt biscuits and cloves.
• Finish: Ripe plums linger alongside light oak spice in the medium-length finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

ELSBURN is produced by Hercynian Distilling Co. / Hammerschmiede in Zorge, part of the municipality of Walkenried in the Harz. The distillery has been making spirits since 1985 and began filling its first casks with new-make whisky spirit in 2002. Its first Harz single malt was released in 2005. The brand was initially called THE GLEN ELS; new bottlings have carried the name ELSBURN since 2019.

At the distillery, the wort ferments in French oak washbacks. Fermentation lasts between 70 and 164 hours, depending on the production run. This is followed by double distillation in wood-fired pot stills. During the second distillation, Anna Buchholz or an experienced distiller determines the cuts between heads, heart and tails. The heart destined for cask maturation is reduced to 60% with spring water.

The distillery works with different cask types, cask sizes and maturation periods to bring out their influence on the whisky. Its selection includes numerous former wine and sherry casks. The final steps are also carried out by hand: the bottles are filled, closed, sealed, labelled and fitted with their finishing touches manually.

Facts: