OB Caledonia 46% - Edradour

[Mark C]

Colour: gold - dark gold

Nose: Quite a nice sherry nose with the tell-tale Christmas cake fruits and seasonal spices. There's a hint of wood about it, although it seems to be pine. This is backed up by a gentle astringency. Some icing sugar comes through accompanied by a hint of nuts. I think I can pick up something floral like heather but I'm maybe having images in my head because of the associated song and the romantic picture it paints of Scotland.

Palate: Very sweet at first at the front - sugars and honey. Some nuttiness again and some orange peel. A little bit winey but then the spices come through with an oily creaminess across the tongue.

Finish: Winey and very, very peppery and HOT! Ouch! Quite a dry and shortish finish but it's like someone has dropped a hot coal in my mouth. Not particularly pleasant at first but subsequent sips are not as harsh. A little sooty too, perhaps.

Comments: An odd one this. The finish probably brings the whole thing down a bit for me but it's still a drinkable one.

[TheTross]

Nose: Very sweet - nougat, molten marshmallow and icing sugar. Plenty of honey and nuts present. Soft sherry notes, medium-cocoa chocolate and a smattering of vanilla, lemon and menthol. Quite floral after a while. Slightest touch of peat and soot? Also something faintly vegetal in the background.

Palate: Soft and sweet. Honey, nuts and gentle sherry. Mild chilli peppers.

Finish: Sweet - almost sugary, in fact. Honey, soft sherry and lemon. A chilli pepper heat (quite hot; definitely more prominent than on the palate!) appears after a few seconds and lasts a while, keeping the lemon and honey company right to the end.


For me this is delightful whisky. The chilli heat on the palate and especially finish is a surprise, but I find it works well with the sweet, honeyed character that's so typical of Edradour. A step or two up from the standard 10yo and perhaps worth a try for anyone who is in two minds about the whisky that this distillery produces.

[Willie JJ]

Nose: Singed rubber and strong tea, malty toffee and scrambled egg
Taste: Sweet tannic and a little rubbery, but there's plenty of delicious fruitiness
Finish: Orange and rubbery with lots of sugar, then a spice kick with a berry juice tail
Comments: The rubber is a distraction, but not offensive. A very drinkable dram

[robjohnston]

Nose: Dried tropical fruit, pencil rubber, some vanilla, toffee and a hint of egg.

Palate: tea, spicy, red fruit, fruit cake, white wine

Finish:Dry, cloves, dried fruit