🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

fun in a glass.

[January, 2018]  My last visit to Cardhu distillery was during the Speyside Whisky Festival some years ago where I booked the special "Stillman's Tour".  This was a fantastic idea as the tour was not done by professional tour guides (that usually never did any production work at distilleries) but by the working stillman of the Cardhu distillery himself.  He was very nervous at the beginning (he never did such a thing before) but he delivered a marvellous job and showed us even the darkest corners of Cardhu where some very old production equipment is stored (among many other things).  At the end of the tour he even showed us his small personal collection of Cardhu and other Diageo employee's releases like the legendary Port Ellen Maltings bottle.  He said "I will never drink such pricey stuff - this is just my personal pension fund".  What a great idea of the Cardhu management to offer such a tour - I really enjoyed it (as did the stillman, too). This story came back to my mind when I received a sample of this dram today because this special 21-years old release was among the bottles of the stillman's small collection, of course.  So this toast is to the stillman of Cardhu (unfortunately, I do not remember his name).  The nose offers the typical fruity-floral Cardhu profile with lots of home-grown fruits (apples, pears, mirabelle) and autumn flowers on haystacks.  It is quite sweet on both barley sugary and honey aromas with appropriate wooden notes.  Not too bad!  The initial mouthfeel is a little hot (due to the high abv) and not really coating, rather thin (the texture shows a light oiliness only).  But no distracting bitter or adstringent moments either, what is good.  The taste is honey-fruity sweet and spicy with some minor herbal flavours.  Without any flaw but not very complex.  Just easy sippable.  The finish is of medium length with more spicy wooden notes (but again no bitterness or drying out, just a slight cardboardiness at the very end).  Some water makes this dram more approachable (and quaffable) but I recommend to try it neat first.  Actually I like the neat nose and a somewhat reduced taste. This is an easy drinkable Cardhu release but not a dram that I will remember (without looking at my tasting notes).  The Aussies would state "not too bad!"

Complex, powerful, well matured whisky. Nice one.

Nose: finely spicy oak - complex with cinnamon, strong vanilla, wonderful scent of roses, apple compote, honey, the nose looks oily, creamy as you would sniff at syrup, now there is also pear with little acid - a lot of fragrance and tannins, fresh orange peel, then also oranges and grapefruit, more delicate spicy woody notes, very ripe, round, delicious and still strong Taste: wow - immediately very intense oranges with slightly bitter (rather austere) oak, full-bodied, discreetly sweet, hardly any acidity, incredibly complex, with the second sip the wood becomes even more intense, somewhat bitter but still delicious, tree juice, cloves, strong nutmeg note , some mint is always in the background to orange juice with orange zest and a little ginger, the longer chewing show nutty chocolate notes, very long finish, not alcoholic but very intense Conclusion: what Cardhu? somehow angular, edgy, high recognition value, no exhausted barrels, definitely polarizing, very strong and nothing for pure fruit note lovers, you have to like it harsh, I think it's great, just a little too expensive

Grassy on the nose initially, with whiffs of marinated artichokes, Italian style. Definitely an acidic aspect: mixed pickles, light vinegar, dry oak and straw. Honey, limestone, orange peel, a tangerine that's beginning to go off. Interesting, if a bit shy without water. Overall a dry and oak-driven impression, I expect some tartness on the palate. A bit harsh and oaky without water. Tart, yes, but with some juicy sweetness in the middle. I say this needs... ...water! Oh yes: more honey, more aromatic old wood, more orange juice, even some tropical notes, less mouldy fruit. Now a dusty, leathery side appears as well. The age is showing more, and it's become super creamy. Way to go. The palate, much tamed and improved with H2O, remains unconventional with little to no mass appeal, i.e., tart, acerbic, strong, still a bit fiery, with all the sweet aspects packed smack in the middle, tapering off into a medium-long finish that mainly offers warm wood and honey notes that shade into maple syrup. I find this one highly intriguing: an unexpectedly edgy and fiery Diageo Speysider that shows what the distillate can provide as a solo act: an intense and well-matured malt whose well-oaked framework might even some win over some cask-strength Bourbon fans, without sacrificing the fruityness and floral aspects of the distillate.

Superbly integrated and beautifully structured.

- at first you believe in an original To smell bourbon, that's how intense the smell is (really awesome) - very atypical excellent cardhu - a cracking whisky with a lot of power and a lot complexity - not cheap, but also exceptionally good

A limited edition that shows the potential of Cardhu; an incredibly delicious, ripe, fruity and complex top malt! Pure or slightly diluted - both are possible!

Good and cheerful silence, clearly felt, but not dominant bourbon barrel, harmoniously combined with the base, a pleasant and rather complex flavor, worthy of its taste / finish, built on a lemon-oak standoff, in general - vigorous, summer whisky.

When I tried my first Cardhu in 2015 as a whisky newbie – it was the 18-year-old – I was initially very impressed by its balance and the honey-soaked, floral-fruity veil that enveloped me after the first sip. After the second or third dram, disillusionment set in, as I had since had other, significantly higher-proof whisky experiences. The sweetly palatable Cardhu, with its 40% ABV, suddenly seemed watered down and almost a bit flat, and I still remember how regrettable I found that at the time. I've kept my distance for a long time now, planning to try this wonderfully high-proof bottling of the 21-year-old for a while. And finally, the time has come. I'm thrilled and have written on my mental wish list that there should be even more high-proof, very aged Cardhus in the future, perhaps even in the standard range.

This shows very clearly what is possible when quality comes first. When the high quality new make hits the right barrels, it doesn't always have to be sherry. This is exactly what Cardhu can impressively demonstrate with this 21. As a member of the Bourbon faction, I was impressed by the overall picture. Even if with some drawbacks. More on that later. Taken from the barrel at the right time and bottled with optimal alcohol strength. So it clears the way, especially with the addition of water, for interesting players with the texture at a high level. My expectations when I read the name "Cardhu" on the rehearsal were rather bored and I wanted to work through it quickly in order to get ahead (rehearsal jam). But, far from it. This bottling deserves every minute of attention and my conclusion after 3 evenings: Very solidly made.

Very sweet, honey, yellow fruit, some apples, blossoms, malty, well balanced, nice, finish could be longer, maybe a little more spicy. Fine old Cardhu!

very good. my first cardhu in about 20 years. can´t remember the last one, only know that I found it a little boring. this one is a whole different world but unfortunately also a whole different price tag. 88/100

I was quite impressed by this Cardhu. A class apart from their mediocre watered down regular range.

The nose promises tannins at the beginning, but over time it becomes very fruity and white to please. The first moment on the palate confirms this positive impression - then is violently torn into a bitter abyss that dominates the finish and unfortunately quickly brings the connoisseur back to the ground. The wonderfully integrated alcohol is also worth mentioning. Too bad it really had a lot of potential, but the bitterness destroys any prospect of buying.

Class malt with high complexity. It's really tasty...

Aroma: Smells of classic malt, woody, somewhat windy anise and star anise, chocolate, vanilla. You can also discover milk chocolate, fried banana, honey ... At first, it seemed ordinary, but there is still something to be discovered when researching. When diluted, it smelled like a blend, so I recommend to enjoy the undiluted aroma. (87 b) Taste: Fine and spicy on the tongue at the same time. A little varnish, vanilla, oak, bourbon, chocolate. Adding a few drops of water becomes beautifully explosive, the shift is quite pronounced for the better. In oak flavor oak and vanilla. (88 b) Summary: I had a half-dozen sample that I tasted two-wheeled, at the same time I directly compared with blended malt Collectivum XXVIII, in this fight Cardhu clearly won. Points: 88

It's alright, but nothing special, a bit bland.

Nose: Very light and gentle. Caramel, toffee and not too little. Orange marmalade, a little nut and cinnamon. Very slight oak notes. Mouth: Again a very soft start in the mouth, immediately the caramel notes are there again. It will be pleasantly sweet and creamy, with some orange and roasted malt. Then the oak packs vigorously and it gets spicier, with hints of white pepper and ginger. Finish: Here the American oak dominates with dryness, spicy notes and oak spice. Nice long and gentle warming. What a gentle and balanced whisky that never gets boring. The alcohol is here, despite the 54% perfectly integrated and never bothers. Why does not #Cardhu make such bottling more often?

I am pleasantly surprised. With a little time in the glass, the nose is quite complex. In the taste, this distinct honey sweetness, paired with this oak sharpness, is not unpleasant. With the addition of water, the malt becomes more harmonious, especially in the mouth, but also loses a bit of its oomph. Is the form of the day dependent on what pleases with when. This time I would rather prefer without water. A really good malt that shows what Cardhu would do if the distillery increased its alcohol content by 40%. On the other hand, it also shows more and more how much I like pure bourbon barrel aging. I see a tendency there. :-) Would I get this limited edition 21 year old Cardhu? The answer is no. For the current price of at least € 190, the PLV is too high for me. However, I would like to take it for free at any time!

Very pleasant, expressive and sweet nose, honey, orange blossom, fresh almond, vanilla and white flowers. In the mouth we find the almond and a touch of orange, the whole is a little sweet. Alcohol is well integrated. Medium finish on the same aromas, vanishes on honey.Well done.

Strong notes, lots of variation, long aftertaste. Spicy, brings you in a higher mood. Like a good poem or a speaking work of art!