This week of Edradour reviews got off to a very shaky start—putting it mildly—with Monday’s marsala cask for the Taiwanese bottler, Or Sileis. I am hoping there will be a major course correction with today’s whisky, which is the 2019 release of the official 12 yo Caledonia Selection. There’s an interesting story about why it’s called Caledonia Selection, but I can’t remember what it is and am too sleepy now to look it up. If you know, or can be arsed to look it up, please write in below. What I can tell you is that it is double matured in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. You’re welcome. Now, let’s see what it’s like.

Edradour 12 “Caledonia Selection”, 2019 Release (46%; double matured in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks; from a bottle split)

Nose: Now, these sherry casks have not covered up the idiosyncratic Edradour character: that beany, slighly rubbery thing (gaskets on old medicine bottles) is the main note alongside the sweet sherry notes of raisins and orange peel. A few drops of water and it mostly feels a little flatter; a bit of toffee maybe.

Palate: Comes in as indicated by the nose with some added bitter oak, some malt and some powdered ginger. A good drinking strength and texture. The fruit gets sweeter and juicier with time (some plum and cherry in there too now). Okay, let’s add water. Hmm it seems to emphasize the bitter oak.

Finish: Long. The rubbery sherry and the oak (less bitter after I swallow) fade out together. With time the oak moves in the direction of dark chocolate. As on the palate with water.

Comments: A good, easy-drinking sherried whisky of a kind that once would have been sold one level up from entry-level prices. At that end of the market I could recommend it. But closer to $100, and not even at cask strength, it’s not exactly a value. I liked it better neat.

Rating: 84.