Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/724773
2 4 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t THE SPIRITED LIFE PHOTO COURTESY OF CAORUNN DISTILLERY PHOTO COURTESY OF CAORUNN DISTILLERY PHOTO: ROGER MORRIS SCOTTISH DISTILLER CAORUNN ENLIVENS THE MIX BY ADDING BOTANICALS FROM THE WILDS by Roger Morris foraging for Distiller Simon Buley examines a cluster of low- lying bog myrtle. It is an overcast, slightly windy day in late May. Distiller Simon Buley climbs into his pickup truck and drives across the secluded Burn of Cromdale and along a narrow road upland from the River Spey, in search of bo- tanicals for his highly rated Cao- runn Gin. A brace of pheasants scurries to get out of his way, and a ewe and her lamb, just escaped from their fenced-in meadow, scramble to get back inside. The countryside of Northern Scotland provides a wealth of foraged botanicals for Caorunn Gin, such as bog myrtle, rowan tree, dandelion and heather.