Today Cardhu


September 10, 2021

	Summer Duets Today Cardhu
	Did you know we were highly active within the LODDOC? (League Of Distinguished Defenders Of Cardhu)? Because, why always only Glenfiddich? Having said that, some recent bottlings haven't quite convinced me, let's give them another chance…

Cardhu 15 yo (40%, OB, +/-2020)

Not sure Cardhu is, as some websites say, 'the gem of Speyside'. Colour: gold. Nose: perfectly fine whenever you need 'malt whisky' in a bar or a pub. Nice, pleasant soft maltiness, some fudge, overripe apples, sponge cake, whiffs of yellow flowers, a little earl grey… It tends to become pretty biscuity, while the 15 years would not really feel, but there, it's 'nice' on the nose. Mouth: pretty fruity at first, on apples and oranges, malty as well, floral, sadly getting a little bitter and thin, a little spirity, drying, rather too tea-ish and cardboardy for me. In a way, it would tend to curl up while it gets bitter. A little strange given that Cardhu's rather an 'access-category' malt whisky that would rather need more sweetness and fruitiness to achieve that noble goal, in my humble opinion. A pretty modest palate. Finish: very short. Earl grey. Comments: not bad at all but modest, thin and light. Now I suppose a significant proportion will end up 'on the rocks' anyway, so to speak.
SGP:341 - 76 points.

Cardhu 'Gold Reserve Game of Thrones House Targaryen' (40%, OB, +/-2019)

Oh, no, that lousy Game of Thrones again. NAS at that. Let's expect more brand-damaging deals with Netflix, HBO, Disney or even, ach, Dramazon in the near future. Not everyone can be James Bond, I would suppose. Oh and why not some bespoke scenarios, with murders at distilleries, people drowning in the mashtuns, passing out over washbacks, or smothered in PX (indeed, the most atrocious scene). Colour: light gold. Nose: more on fresh fruits, pineapples, apples, bananas, pears… That's rather fine, I would guess some recharred casks have been used. And a floral tone once again, with dandelions, acacia flowers… A little butter too, lactic (from recharred wood indeed?) Mouth: certainly brighter than the 15, fruitier (fruity hops) and although it would then nosedive just as well, there's some freshness remaining. A touch of tangerine and elderflower liqueur, which goes well in Champagne. Keep Aperol for your prosecco. Finish: short, but fresh and fruity. Comments: this won't defeat the blue dead horsemen in the series, but I find it fine and I wouldn't refuse a wee measure.
SGP:541 - 79 points.

Check the index of all Cardhu we've tasted so far