Cardhu 16 Year Old | Special Releases 2022

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 
Distillery Bottling 70cl / 58%

A cask strength 16-year-old Cardhu released as part of Diageo's 2022 Special Releases. Cardhu of course is a key ingredient in the Johnnie Walker blend recipe and the standard official 12-year-old is one of the world's best-selling single malt whiskies, so it's great to see an older cask strength edition.

This 2022 Special Releases Cardhu 16-year-old started life in refill and recharred American oak casks before what sounds like a very promising finish in casks that were seasoned with a Jamaican pot still rum, so we can expect a layer of extra funky sweet fruit flavours.

Bottled at its natural full cask strength of 58%, this 16-year-old Cardhu has been subtitled The Hidden Paradise of Black Rock which sounds like marketing gibberish but does in fact relate to the Cardhu name, which is a contraction of the Gaelic carraig dhu, meaning 'black rock'.

Attributes

Tasting Notes

Official Tasting Notes

Appearance: Clear gold.

Nose: Beguiling first impressions begin with the fresh, sweet fruitiness of lemon zest and white grape enriched by exotic notes of pink grapefruit and ripe mango, all on a faintly mossy base, a note that evolves into freshly ironed linen. A notably spicy and woody note soars high above. A drop of water dries these aromas and introduces a pinch of white pepper.

Body: Light to medium.

Palate: A creamy-smooth and full texture, the taste erupting with sweet flavour. Tingling on the tongue, the fruity and malty sweetness behind this suggesting home- made rum toffee and more exotic hints of spiced pineapple and green banana, made more appetising still by spicy and drying, bracingly crisp, clean oak. A dash of water creates a delightful and even smoother texture, still strong in peppery spice.

Finish:  Quite short, sweet and peppery. With  water, the oaky spiciness is even more forward.