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?
Knappogue Castle 12 Year
This Irish distillery has an interesting story. A derelict castle was bought by Mark Edwin Andrews, former Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy, and his wife Lavonne in 1966. The Andrews collected whiskey from the Daly Distillery and eventually brought to market. While the castle was repurchased by Ireland in 1996, the castle’s namesake whiskey is still produced today by a company run by Andrews’ son. The Knappogue Castle 12 Year is the youngest of a line featuring several age statements.