The Cairn : 18 Year Old CRN57°

Tasting notes and characteristics of The Cairn 18 Years Old CRN57°

Tasting

Appearance
This Scotch whisky displays its natural hue, having undergone no artificial colouring. Its colour faithfully reflects the influence of its long maturation in oak casks.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is rich and indulgent, dominated by notes of crisp apples, blueberries and candied citrus peel. It then unfolds with scents of raisins and toasted almonds dusted with brown sugar, all enveloped in nuances of caramel, vanilla and a very subtle wisp of smoke.

Palate
The palate offers a smooth texture and a wonderful pastry-like indulgence. Flavours of banana, milk chocolate and hazelnut blend harmoniously with notes of strawberries and cream. The whole is perfectly balanced by the structure of the wood, caramel and a touch of sweet spices. The finish, of medium length, proves refreshing thanks to hints of lime, mint and pepper, supported by a returning woody and spicy character.

Pairings and tasting occasions
Ideal as a reward after a day of exploration or adventure, this whisky is best enjoyed at the end of the day. It is sipped neat, at a room temperature of 18 to 20 °C in a tulip or Glencairn glass, or on the rocks to heighten its freshness. On the gastronomic side, it pairs beautifully with fruit desserts such as apple tart or red berry cheesecake, as well as chocolate and hazelnut pastries. It also goes very well with aged hard cheeses.

Mixology
This blended malt shines in mixology, notably through the signature cocktail "The 18". To prepare it, pour 35 ml of CRN57° 18 Years Old, 20 ml of raspberry liqueur, 15 ml of Lillet Blanc (or dry vermouth) and a few mint leaves into a mixing glass with ice. Stir for one minute, strain into a glass filled with ice cubes, then garnish with a sprig of mint and a few raspberries.

Other characteristics
This Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is bottled at 43% ABV in a 70 cl format. It stands out for its unpeated profile, the very discreet hint of smoke perceived on the palate coming exclusively from the toasting of the oak casks.

A rich and fruity Scotch whisky crafted by The Cairn

The Cairn: the future of Scotch whisky by Gordon & MacPhail
Founded in 2022, the The Cairn distillery represents a major strategic development for its current owner, the renowned House of Gordon & MacPhail (Speymalt Whisky Distributors Limited), whose board of directors is chaired by Neil Urquhart. Located in Craggan, in the Speyside region and at the heart of Cairngorms National Park, this young distillery benefits from an exceptional natural setting. With an annual production capacity of one million litres of pure alcohol, it aims to craft a rich, ample and intensely fruity Scotch whisky, entirely free of peat. By combining the modernity of its production facility with the century-old expertise of Gordon & MacPhail in cask selection and maturation, The Cairn establishes itself as an innovative project, rooted in tradition while resolutely turned towards the future.

The 18 Years Old CRN57°: a projection through time and taste
The 18 Years Old CRN57° is an exceptional Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, designed as a true bridge through time. While awaiting the young distillery's own distillates to reach full maturity in the 2030s, Gordon & MacPhail created the CRN57° range — a name referring to the 57th parallel of northern latitude, where the distillery is located.

This Scotch whisky is the result of a meticulous blend of single malts from several local distilleries, carefully selected for their ability to embody the future style of The Cairn. Matured in oak casks for at least 18 years, it offers a faithful aromatic projection of what the House's future single malt will be at that precise age.

Positioned as an accessible yet sophisticated sipping spirit, the 18 Years Old CRN57° stands out for its intensely fruity profile and its pastry-like dimension. It perfectly illustrates the historic blending expertise of its bottler, successfully meeting the challenge of recreating, from aged casks, the flavour portrait of a rich and indulgent distillate.