Cardhu 18 Year Old

Around 70% of what is distilled at Cardhu goes into the famous Johnnie Walker blends. The other 30% hits the market as single malt. We’ll try the 18 Year Old, which is very popular in France, Portugal, Spain and Greece. This has everything to do with the local warm climate, where this fruity Speyside truly shines.

There is no comparison with the 12 and 15 years old here. This is simply a different malt on stewed apples, peach and a soft floral note. Toasted oak with a hint of woodsmoke and a soft peppery note.

Silky soft on the palate with some oranges, peach, baked apples with cinnamon, barley sugars with a hint of wood glue – but in a good way – and a note of menthol. Cherry juice and baker’s spices go hand in hand. Chocolate in the background. I quite like this.

The finish is medium long, softly seasoned and mildly drying on walnuts and orange liqueur.

I actually believe this could be a very good whisky if bottled at 46% or even 50%. And 60 EUR is quite a fair price for this malt. You should give this a try, really. Cardhu is heavily underestimated if you ask me.

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