Cardhu 18 Year

I acquired this bottle at auction a few months ago and decided it was time to open it. This Speyside single malt is a UK exclusive that sells for around $75-80. My winning bid was about $60 after currency conversion. Add on 10% fees plus shipping, and I'd say I paid close to UK retail. Let's examine this Speyside single malt. Bottled at 40% ABV, it is chill filtered and has coloring added, giving it an amber honey hue. The nose has abundant honey, some citrus, and is malty. Tangerine marmalade, peaches, grapes, and some light apples. Primarily sherry characteristics, but there also appears to be some bourbon barrel aging as well. Brown sugar, caramel, buttered toast. Coffee or mocha, toffee, maple. Nutty - Brazil nuts, hazelnut, nutmeg, ginger, and anise. Floral, grassy, and perfumed, with occasional green oak. For a moment, there was a very sweet/fruity note resembling Skittles or Fruity Pebbles. The palate begins with oranges and tangerines and honey. Very malty, but more like a dark roasted malt similar to what's used in stout beer. Vanilla cream, anise, butterscotch. Oak tannins, dark chocolate, salted caramels. Faint mint, sherry, but more of a dark and juicy sherry rather than a sweet and fruity one. Green grapes and a gentle hint of wood smoke. Some wood spice, but it's generally a mild and very drinkable whisky. A medium-bodied mouthfeel that is creamy and lightly oily, dry. The finish is medium length with dark chocolate malt, honey, and is dry. Reflecting on my notes for the 12 year old, which is about $35 cheaper in the UK market (I paid $60 here in Michigan), they seem to compare quite evenly. Honey, citrus, and chocolate malt appear to be the signature profile for Cardhu. This 18 isn't bad, but why spend more for what amounts to a slightly darker and richer version of the 12? Not an outstanding scotch, but it has the complexity where it matters and isn't excessively priced. For that, I award it a 3.75. Cheers

The second expression at the distillery was the 18yo. A more upscale whisky than the amber rock and the 12yo, this one still feels like it's missing something to be a great single malt. It seems the entire core range isn't mind blowing, and we can only talk about "good" or "very good" whiskies. Bottled at 40% ABV. On the nose; it's almost perfect. Plums, fresh wood, blackberries, and raisins. Scottish toffee. Very inviting. On the palate, it's weak. Raisins; a bit watery. Vanilla. Plums, actually quite watery but pleasant. Light pepper and honey. Light. Muted. Aftertaste barely makes the cut. A faint raisin and blackberry note. Fresh wood, Pepper, and sawdust. Overall, this is an $85 18yo whisky, and that says a lot. I'm not claiming you need to spend big bucks for amazing whiskies; that would be untrue. What I am saying is that for a product that has aged 18 years for you to purchase, it's surprisingly inexpensive. The reason: it's not that great. It's not bad, nor awful. It's just "average". You can find much better, younger, whiskies for the same price. My rating for it is 85 out of 100.

This is another one of those 40% ABV disappointments. The aroma is quite weak. What can be perceived is alright but nothing special. It has a light fruity character and some delicate floral hints, plus a touch of oak. The mouthfeel is watery, light, sweet, and a bit dry. After a while, it becomes more mellow, whereas earlier it felt somewhat unsettled and disorganized. The only element suggesting its 18 years of aging is some sherry-like character that is at least somewhat intriguing. The ending is good, however - the best part. Nice oak wood, even if still a little subdued. It then develops a more bitter and even slightly saline finish, making it a decent/acceptable whisky in the end. So, initially a bit underwhelming but it improves as you go. I'm quite certain 46% ABV or higher would make this a genuinely pleasant whisky. But in its current state, I won't have it again. Potential is wasted, in my view. Likely intended for a different audience.

Thanks to a blind tasting challenge sent to me by a friend, I sampled this 18-year-old malt from Cardhu. I didn't take my typical notes as I focused on identifying the differences between 5 different whiskies and spirits. What stood out about this one was its harshness, especially for its age. I recall some excellent sherry notes and not much heat, but I suspect the casks used were of lower quality. That said, I'd give this a middle-of-the-road score of 3 stars and would happily revisit it later to assess it properly if I can find another pour. Thanks again to my friend. The challenge was a blast. Cheers.

Nose: wonderfully fresh orange, plum, and cherries. Like a fresh fruit salad. Palate: oily and full-bodied, velvety texture, with dried plums and raisins, candied pears, and oranges. Hints of light caramel. Finish is brief and fruity. A delicious, fresh product, perfect for summer days. Very good. Rated 4.5

A friend sent this as a blind tasting challenge. He sent 5 samples. I'm not a big fan of Cardhu, but perhaps that's just my opinion, given that all of Spain favors this as their top single malt. I don't recall the specific notes at this point; it was good, but not compelling enough to purchase a bottle. It's adequate for a hotel bar. Thanks to my friend!