“Run Of The Mill”
Whisky Review # 1075
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Lowlands
Brand: Eden Mill - (Art of) St. Andrews 2023 Release
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.5%
Maturation:A mix of Oloroso and PX hogsheads and Ex-Bourbon barrels
Finish: Ex Grande Champagne Cognac casks
Maturation:A mix of Oloroso and PX hogsheads and Ex-Bourbon barrels
Finish: Ex Grande Champagne Cognac casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 150-190 (December 2025)
Price Range: US$ 150-190 (December 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😒 Not really bad but there are better alternatives at this price level
Colour:
Light Gold (Natural Color)
Nose:
Young, Light, Malty and Yeasty. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. It's lightly peated and that enhances the Aroma profile. The Sherry influence is there but not overpowering. Not too much depth here. No Off-notes to speak of. It's okay.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast with a Butter/Margarine Spread, Yeast, Dough, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Plums & Dates, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Nuts and Nutshells, Pepper, Mint and Ginger.
Buying Advice: 😒 Not really bad but there are better alternatives at this price level
Colour:
Light Gold (Natural Color)
Nose:
Young, Light, Malty and Yeasty. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. It's lightly peated and that enhances the Aroma profile. The Sherry influence is there but not overpowering. Not too much depth here. No Off-notes to speak of. It's okay.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast with a Butter/Margarine Spread, Yeast, Dough, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Plums & Dates, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Nuts and Nutshells, Pepper, Mint and Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Caramel, Grain Biscuits, Bread, Milk Chocolate, Caffe Late, Grapefruit, Wet Paper, Damp Cellar and Cinnamon. Hints of Metal, Raw Meat and Varnish.
Honey, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Caramel, Grain Biscuits, Bread, Milk Chocolate, Caffe Late, Grapefruit, Wet Paper, Damp Cellar and Cinnamon. Hints of Metal, Raw Meat and Varnish.
Palate:
Young, Light and a little Hot. A mix of Bitter, Sweet & Sour notes. Nothing special but a lot better than the 2019 Release I reviewed earlier this year.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Slightly Burnt Toast, Salted Caramel, Bread, Dough, Yeast, Biscuits, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Nectarine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Plums, Nuts and Nutshells, Dusty Oak, Bitter Herbs, Pepper and Ginger.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Wax, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Orange, Milk Chocolate, Caffe Latte, Wet Paper, Metal, Damp Cellar, Raw Meat, Tobacco, Peanuts, Varnish and Cinnamon.
Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Slightly Burnt Toast, Salted Caramel, Bread, Dough, Yeast, Biscuits, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Nectarine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Plums, Nuts and Nutshells, Dusty Oak, Bitter Herbs, Pepper and Ginger.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Wax, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Orange, Milk Chocolate, Caffe Latte, Wet Paper, Metal, Damp Cellar, Raw Meat, Tobacco, Peanuts, Varnish and Cinnamon.
Finish:
Young, slightly Rough/Hot and on the Short side. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. The Bitterness increases towards the Medium-Dry end. The Alcohol is quite present here. Easily the weakest part of this Eden Mill. I find Sweet Barley, Grains, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Dough, Demerara Sugar, White Wine mixed with Sparkling Water, Grass, Honey, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Dried Fruit like Bananas & Plums, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Charred Dusty Oak, Nutshells, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger. Hints of Varnish, Humid Paper and Cold Wet Steel.
Young, slightly Rough/Hot and on the Short side. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. The Bitterness increases towards the Medium-Dry end. The Alcohol is quite present here. Easily the weakest part of this Eden Mill. I find Sweet Barley, Grains, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Dough, Demerara Sugar, White Wine mixed with Sparkling Water, Grass, Honey, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Dried Fruit like Bananas & Plums, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Charred Dusty Oak, Nutshells, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger. Hints of Varnish, Humid Paper and Cold Wet Steel.
Drinking Advice:
This Eden Mill does not improve at all with added Water. Better sip it neat.
Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 5.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Conclusion:
Eden Mill was founded in 2012 in Guardbridge close to St. Andrews. It started as a Brewery but a distillery was added in 2014. In March 2022 the plans for a new and larger distillery were approved and in April 2025 the first Spirit was produced. The large investments and the general challenges of the whisky market caused financial problems and in the second half of 2025 Eden Mills was placed into the hands of administrators. Fortunately an Investment Group called Ruby Capital acquired the business and assets of Eden Mill in late November. Let's cross fingers that Eden Mill will have a bright future.
This is only my second Eden Mill and although better than the 2019 release (see Palate) I'm not really impressed with this distillery so far. This St. Andrews is not really bad but it has all the flaws of an immature Single Malt. Good whisky needs time and that's often a huge (financial) problem for starting distilleries. Let's hope that the new owners will allow the distillery to produce at least some fully matured Single Malts in the future. I'm certainly looking forward to that!
Cheers! 🥃
Jan van den Ende December 10, 2025
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