blended scotch, blended whiskey, blended whisky, Blogger, Boston, Boston Blogger, Boston Whiskey Women, Cheers, Distillery Visit, dram, Latina Blogger, Latina Whisky Blogger, New Blog Post, Not Sponsored, Review, Sample Size, scotch, scotch whisky, Scotland, single malt, Single Malt Scotch, Single Malt Whiskey, Single malt whisky, Speyside, Traveling Through Scotland, whiskey, Whiskey Blogger, Whiskey Flight, Whiskey Review, Whiskey Sampling, Whiskey Tasting Room, whiskeywench, Whisky, Whisky Blogger, Whisky Sampling, whisky tasting, Women Who Whiskey

The Cairn Distillery

Posted by whiskeywench on

While in Scotland, we had the opportunity to visit one of the country’s newest distilleries, The Cairn Distillery, owned and operated by Gordon & MacPhail. Located within the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, the distillery officially opened its doors in 2022. The name Cairn comes from the Scottish Gaelic word for a man-made pile of stones used as a landmark or memorial, symbolizing something built to last and guide explorers along their journey.

Let me start by saying that this distillery is beautiful! It’s modern, thoughtfully designed, and the surrounding views are simply breathtaking. Since the distillery is still relatively new, their CRN57° range features whiskies carefully curated by their master blenders, bringing together different expressions while they wait for their own whisky to mature.

We didn’t take a formal tour but instead spent some time exploring the facilities. They also offer tastings at their on-site restaurant, The Gathering. During our visit, we had the opportunity to sample their 12YO, 18YO, 25YO, and Cairn First Peek 3YO. While we enjoyed all four, there was one that really stood out to me, and that was their 18YO. So, let’s get into it!

Nose: fruity, light sweetness, and almonds

Palate: nutty, banana, chocolate, and spices

Finish: light sweetness and pepper

ABV: 43% | Cost: $100

What I truly appreciated about this whisky was the banana note. I honestly can’t recall another whisky I’ve sampled where this note stood out so much, and I absolutely loved it! Combined with the chocolate, nuttiness, and spices, it made for such a unique and enjoyable experience.

We were very tempted to purchase a bottle, but by the time we visited the distillery, we had already realized that we had bought way too much whisky during our trip. Unfortunately, some tough decisions had to be made!

Overall, I think The Cairn is a distillery to keep an eye on. I really love what they’re doing and look forward to seeing how their whiskies evolve as their own spirit continues to mature. I’m also hoping to see their expressions on shelves here in the US soon, if they aren’t already available. If you happen to come across this brand, I think it’s worth exploring.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend people to try it and make up their own minds.

Leave a Reply