The launch of Eden Mill Guard Bridge Blended Malt

PR invite // All thoughts and opinions are, of course, my own. 

I headed over to Glasgow’s West End for the launch of the new blended malt The Guard Bridge from Eden Mill at the Oyster Bar at The Finnieston (two trips to Glasgow in one week as I was at Fallachan Dining the other day!. The Guard Bridge is the brand new core release bottling from Eden Mill which contains both their own single malt and single malt from the highlands. Eden Mill are currently planning their new distillery and visitor centre which will hopefully be up and running summer 2024. This would’ve been open sooner if the pandemic hadn’t come along and delayed the work. It sounds like it will be a lovely addition to the Scottish whisky scene and feature a rooftop bar and events space on the top floor with some gorgeous views and of course an upscaled distillery for the production of future Eden Mill whisky. As the distillery has been on a smaller scale up so far there isn’t a lot of spirit around for bigger single malt releases and I believe this is the only blended malt where you will actually find Eden Mill spirit. They’ve created a whisky which features sweet grass, waxy fruits and creamy vanilla on the nose whilst the palate offers fresh fruits, spicy peppercorns, sweet barley sugar and a spicy drier finish. A fairly viscous spirit which I believe will appeal to those who either like a bit more of a wood/spice forward, yet fresh and sweet whisky + a 46% ABV and those who like a whisky cocktail as it’s a great component for mixology. During the event we tried a couple of different serves, like a banana sour, fig old fashioned, apple highball, strawberry sour and a serve with benedictine + whisky (15ml vs 50ml, stirred with ice before double strain) – and they were all lovely but the last one and the banana sour were my two favourites of the night.

The label design is inspired by swirling water and the split in the label is the river Eden. Right by the letter G you can also see a little golden dot which marks the location of the distillery to come.

The whisky that goes into the blended malt has been matured in a combination of first fill ex-bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry as well as virgin oak before being married together in ex-Eden Mill casks. This expressions serves as a what’s-to-come for the new distillery where future releases also will feature similar casks, natural colour and non chill-filtration just like this whisky.

The name The Guard Bridge comes from a nearby bridge with the same name, originally called the “Eden Bridge” where soldiers would be stationed to guard the area against potential Jacobite uprisings.

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