Edradour Caledonia 12

Now to continue my ongoing need to finish off whiskies that all come from the same distillery, it’s time for the smallest (in size, not in ferocity) distillery in Scotland, Edradour. So remember: As one Edradour closes, another one opens.

So you’re trying Edradour Caledonia 12. Why? Because you like Edradour and the second youngest regular release is that one, right? Right.

Then you find out it’s aged in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. That’s pretty cool. Nice.

Oh, and of course it’s specially selected by Scottish songwriter Dougie MacLean and named after his song Caledonia, which has been adopted as an “unofficial” national anthem.

Wait, what? Are we just going to throw that in there? Just surprise us that their 12-year-old dram is somehow connected to the man who created the main theme to The Last of the Mohicans? Who, it turns out, is a national treasure to Scotland?

If you can’t tell, I honestly didn’t know anything about Dougie MacLean or his connection to this dram until writing this up. So there’s that. Turns out whisky can still surprise you. Hopefully, the next OB whisky I review is somehow dedicated to a famous painter, cause that’ll be cool.

Let’s see how this tastes, shall we?

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Highland

Abv: 46%

Colour: 10YR 6/8

Nose: Nectarine, mineral, vanilla ice cream, grass, tannins

Alright, so this has that stone fruit and mineral side that Edradour brings. However this isn’t having the overabundance issue that other Edradour has had when adding sherry to it, or as I called it, fruit on fruit on fruit because I like hip-hop.

Nice vanilla, some creaminess, some grass. This is a slow burn though, as it’s only 46%.

Taste: Tea, ginger, lemon, peach, anise, cinnamon

More tannins, and fruity and spicey. If you’ve had the ten year, this one is spicier and the extra two years have given it time to pop out.

Again, though, you need to take some time on this one. It’s going to be a big old tea bomb the first time. And if that kept you away from visiting your own grandmother (you fucking monster) then it’ll keep you away from this (again, you’re a monster).

Finish: Wood, mineral, cinnamon, apple, dry

Woody finish. Wood and mineral heavy. Eventually, you get a respite with apple and spice. But only eventually.

So if you couldn’t visit your own father who worked at a mill (you fucking monster) because of all of the wood, then this may be off-putting at first (again, you’re a monster).

Conclusion: Nice upgrade from the 10. Frankly, some of these special releases are just money grabs. The hardcore Dougie MacLean fans are taken advantage of and years later people stop talking about it.

Except this has been out for a decade now and I think they keep making it. Someone forgot to tell Edradour this was supposed to suck. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it is going to be nice to sip. As long as you give it time. Otherwise, it’s nothing but tannins and mineral, and that’ll make you a worse person (you’re a monster).

77/100

Scotch review #952, Highland review #158, Whisky Network review #1505