Edradour Caledonia 12 Year

This 12-year-old single malt is bottled at 46% ABV and spends about 8 years in ex-bourbon casks before finishing in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The color is notable, resembling an aged Macallan 18, and carries a similar aroma of figs, sultanas, and coffee, with a malt and oak presence. The sherry's impact on the nose and initial taste is immense and highly enjoyable, evoking a specific nostalgic feeling. However, the sweet dark fruits fade, leading to a harsh, bitter finish with notes of salty dark chocolate or, less optimistically, burnt sugar. It's not bad, and Edradour warrants a slightly higher price for this memorable experience, which feels like sherry added to a spirit. The sherry initially dominates, masking the ex-bourbon maturation, before a more average, younger-tasting spirit emerges at the end.

Edradour has amazed me in recent months, and I'm beginning to develop a liking for this "Scottish little gem." Caledonia 12yo is one of their expressions, heavily sherried (like all the others), but this can be a challenge for some newcomers. Bottled at 46.5% ABV, with a very deep reddish-copper color. On the nose: Orange caramel, maraschino cherry syrup; Red fruits, strawberry syrup. Super sweet but a bit muted. The alcohol note is strong. Glazed pork notes also emerge. Actually, the nose wasn't that impressive. On the palate, it was delicious. Coffee, sweet syrup, sherried. This is a nice spicy little character. Aftertaste is an atomic spice bomb. The most absolute spiciness imaginable. Ashes, clove, pepper, and cinnamon. Overall, I truly enjoyed this and the score might not fully represent its quality. 86/100. Cheers!

I adore this whiskey. Edradour is among my favorite distilleries, and this malt does not disappoint. The nose is rich with dried fruits. Plum, apricot, raisin. A sweet nuttiness, similar to pecan praline. Oranges and caramel. I also detect subtle spicy tobacco in the background. Light earthy peat rounds out the nose nicely. The palate mirrors the nose, but with more pronounced spices. Cinnamon, clove, and licorice. The peat manifests as a light leathery note, followed by earthiness. This is a dense malt, and there is much to discover. It's exceptionally flavorful, so I don't mind taking the time to explore it.

My initial experience with edradour. It's not for novices. The flavor profile is rich and packed with unusual notes compared to mainstream whiskies, which might deter some. However, dedicating time to it reveals a wide spectrum of tastes. Best enjoyed after a meal. It's rich, thick, and concentrated on the palate, with deep, smooth sherry notes. Its complexity keeps me engaged, though its scarcity means I can only revisit it occasionally. Outstanding.

This might be my top whisky so far, and I've sampled many costing over $1000. It's like the 10 year expression but vastly superior. The finish is pure sherry, free from any lingering oak bitterness found in the 10. The nose is genuinely like a chocolate brownie topped with fudge and sherry; it's incredible. A true masterpiece with a substantial mouthfeel. In my view, it's from the best distillery because their small operations allow for meticulous care. 100/100

The preferred sherried scotch. For that classic, deep, rich, dark fruit sherry essence with a subtle background funk evoking an old cellar, this is it. The nose and palate mirror each other, full of dates, figs, raisins, plums, prunes, and tobacco, supported by an almost inexplicable basement funk that provides more depth than a modern Glendronach 15 or Arran Sherry, which seem much brighter.