Cardhu 11 Year (2020 Special Release)

Appearance: Golden straw color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form slowly. Nose: Very sweet and fruity with crisp apples, soft juicy pears, and tart pineapple. Hints of sawdust and cinnamon are also present to add depth. Palate: Really enjoyable full mouthfeel. Sweetness is again apparent with honey, apples, apricots, toasted almonds, white pepper, and some spicy oak tannins. Finish: Medium-long finish. Grain cereal and cinnamon, gradually becoming a bit sweeter with honey and lemon pastries, then slightly bitter oak notes at the end. With Water: A few drops of water add a mild saltiness to the nose and a slight floral note. Caramel and lemon citrus are now added to the palate, and some dark chocolate helps to initiate the finish. Total score: 87/100. Final thoughts: This was a pleasant surprise. I haven't had the chance to try many Cardhu expressions, but this is by far the best from my limited experience. Diageo's special releases can be divisive, but I rather enjoy them. While some miss the mark, others are true gems that take the distillate in a new direction and reveal a different facet of its character, and I'd place this bottle in that category. Lately, these special releases have become quite expensive for a gamble on a whole bottle, but I appreciate that they produce cask strength, very unique expressions that are always worth sampling. This one made me check retail prices, and it seems to still be somewhat available for around $100, more or less. If I came across one at that price, I would likely purchase it, but I don't love it enough to specifically order it and pay for shipping. Thanks to my brother for the sample.

Nose: Bright citrus and green apple. Light oak in the background with brief hints of honeysuckle and spring blossoms. Over time, the aroma becomes fuller and honey-like. Dilution reduces the intensity of the scents, revealing a malty cereal note; however, excessive water will quickly mute the nose. Palate: The initial entry is lively and bracing, with almost effervescent lemon and grapefruit notes. Spicy tannins and white pepper quickly emerge, leading to a development that is slightly sweeter but also strong in unripe fruit flavors like green banana, tart apple, and sour pineapple. The palate is pure and crisp to the point of being raw, with a good texture somewhat overshadowed by its citric intensity. Water softens the palate, but a significant amount is needed to bring out malty notes, by which point the whisky becomes too diluted and slightly brackish. Finish: Medium length. Light lemon zest, bitter cacao, and wheat beer. Water sweetens the aftertaste. This is a brisk, energetic single malt with commendable purity, but it's a bit too sharp for my preference. It feels like a coiled spring, and while I appreciate its direct, unsherried, and unpeated character, I also found it somewhat relentless. I enjoyed it more with water, but it was challenging to find the optimal dilution point, as the palate required considerably more water than the nose. Technically, this is an excellent single malt, but it's not an easy experience. Comparing it to the 22-year-old Benriach Dark Rum Cask I recently reviewed, the difference is vast. Both are highly rated whiskies, but where the Benriach is akin to an elegant smoking jacket, this is a bold, edgy dress. Tasted from a 30ml sample. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Perhaps my palate is changing, as I find myself increasingly drawn to fruitier spirits over peaty or sherried ones. Regardless, I might slightly prefer this Cardhu to the Talisker and Lagavulin expressions from the Diageo 2020 special releases. The nose offers warm honey, malt, and apple. On the palate, it's oily with flavors of red apples and nutmeg. The finish shifts to spiced chocolate. A surprisingly strong performance from this reliable distillery.

An immediate woody aroma is released upon opening the bottle. After pouring, it settles into warm fruit notes and hot pepper in the glass. On the palate, it's full-bodied with hints of melon and grapefruit, delivering a strong white pepper kick. The pepper dominates the finish as well; likely its most commendable characteristic.

Nose: 4.25/5 banana, orange, tropical fruit, banana ice cream Palate: 4/5 sweet, banana Finish: 3/5 short but strong Adding water enhances the banana notes.