Cardhu Special Cask Reserve (40%, OB, Cs/cR.13.15, 2015)

• ABV: 40%
• Age: NAS
• Bottling: OB, Cs/cR.13.15
• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £55.63
• Origin: Cardhu distillery
• Vintage: Undeclared

What they say

A unique and exquisite selection of the very finest aged speyside single malt whisky. Selected from very old oak casks.

What I say

After the Gold Reserve, this limited batch release of Cardhu’s Special Cask Reserve seems to have completely passed me by. A great distillery to visit but their whisky usually flies way below my radar. My best guess is ‘very old oak casks’ is marketing speak for refills?

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Amber gold (10/20), medium-large tears, long, well-defined, medium legs.
• Nose: Malty and grassy, honey, brown sugars, soft baked fruits, apple, pear, some vanilla, baked pastries, vanilla sponge cake, malted milk bicuits.
• Taste: Light-bodied, vanilla, honey, soft cereals, some white oak wood, sharp white pepper and cinnamon-like woody spice, lots of honey, thins in texture.
• Finish: Long, woody, cereals, touch of grapefruit zest and honey.

Overall

Soft and gentle, accessible if a little uninspired, some vanilla oak influence but errs towards bitterness and awful thin feeling at 40%.

Score 76/100

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