Edradour 12 Year “Caledonia”
This is a release made by Edradour from a cask specifically chosen by Scottish composer Douglas Maclean in 2009 from a selection first distilled in 1997. There’s even a video. His music may sound familiar to some, for his piece “The Gael” was adapted by Trevor Jones for the movie The Last of the Mohicans in 1992. His other famous piece is “Caledonia,” after which this spirit is named. Three cheers to a small distillery like Edradour that can take a highly unique step like this. It may not be around forever, but a bottling like this deserves enough attention to fill your glass. Now, more importantly, what special qualities did Dougie Maclean taste in this whisky?
Arran Sauternes Cask
Situated on Arran, full of castles and fascinating landmarks like the King’s Cave and the Machrie Moor Stone Circles, this lovely isle once had 30 underground distilleries operating on it. It is very clear they embrace their history and infuse it in their whisky right alongside their water and barley. This penchant is shown in the names of some offerings, which include the Robert Burns, the Machrie Moor, and the Devil’s Punchbowl. They even have a cream liqueur! The Arran Sauternes Cask is distilled for 8 years in regular oak casks, then finished in Sauternes wine casks (Sauternes, in case you ever wondered, is a sweet white wine from Bordeaux).
Ardbeg Auriverdes
This site may have an Ardbeg problem. And let us tell you, that’s the kind of problem you want to have. Ardbeg has made a regular habit of releasing limited offerings every year or so over the past decade. Some are bigger hits than others, but they’re all No Age Statement (NAS) bottlings that each have a unique character. Some get brought into the regular line up, like the Uigeadail, while others remain hallowed and elusive (hello, Ardbog). This year’s name is a tip of the hat to the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil. Auriverdes means “gold” and “green,” which are the colors of Brazil. Ardbeg claims that the whisky is gold and the bottle is green – also very true. Will this Ardbeg Auriverdes be able to stand tall on the Ardbeg team?