Cardhu is another in Diageo’s extensive portfolio of Scottish distilleries. Located in the Speyside, Cardhu is a pretty old distillery but has maintained a fairly low profile in single malt form–Whiskybase records very few independent releases from Cardhu and the Malt Maniacs database lists even fewer. This 12 yo is the only regular official release I think, and it has only relatively recently made its way to the US. I’ve tried it on a couple of earlier occasions but in social settings where I couldn’t really pay attention to it; and so I’m happy to be able to spend some time with a large sample.

Cardhu 12 (40%; from a sample received in a swap)

Nose: Honeyed malt and heather. Bright and fruity: some citrus and some sweeter fruit (peach? cherry?). A little grassy as well. Gets sweeter and maltier and creamier as it sits; more vanilla too now. With even more time the fruit gets musky. A very nice nose, especially for a young whisky bottled at 40%. Water brightens the nose up a touch. 

Palate: Not quite as fruity at first on the palate as I was expecting. Instead there’s some toasted wood and spicy notes (rye, cinnamon) at first and then malty sweetness. With time there’s musky fruit on the palate as well (melon, a slight hint of papaya), balancing the woody notes–not a whole lot but just enough to make it interesting. Water makes it a little more acidic and makes the musky fruit recede.

Finish: Medium. Wood and spice dominate.

Comments: No world beater but a textbook Speysider of its type and a very pleasant easy-drinking malt. I’d take it over the current Cragganmore 12, especially if found cheaper. A good gateway malt to offer to guests who usually drink blends. Would probably be much better at even 43%. Now, what are older Cardhus like? Anyone had one?

Rating: 83 points.

Thanks to Florin for the sample!