Cardhu Gold Reserve (Game of Thrones-House Targaryen)

The show captured the attention of the world for 7.5 seasons, then it became a program that angered most viewers in its final 3+ hours. Well, the whisky company Diageo had to capitalize on the show's immense profits. Their strategy? Whisky releases themed to each House/Major Family from the show, plus Castle Black/The Wall. That should generate significant revenue, right? The positive aspect is that they collaborated with 8 reputable Scotch distilleries, some of which provided a new, special whisky exclusively for the Game of Thrones collection. The negative - a few of the bottles contained the exact same whisky already available from the respective distillery, as is the situation with this Cardhu. Gold Reserve is already a release in the UK market. They simply added a Targaryen-themed label and re-released it, this time globally. It remains at 40% ABV, is chill-filtered, and has so much added coloring it looks identical to every other Game of Thrones bottle. It has a crystal bronze hue and appears quite thin in the Glencairn. Numerous watery, fluid droplets form and swiftly descend the glass after a vigorous swirl. The initial aroma was dominated by apples and pears, an artificial fruity scent resembling freshly unwrapped salt water taffy that lingered for a few minutes before mysteriously vanishing, leaving behind typical vanilla, lightly toasted oak, and candied malt. Some tropical notes appeared as I prepared for the first sip, reminding me of the song “Rastafarian Targaryen”. (If you haven't heard it, I recommend searching YouTube for the Game of Thrones Red Nose Day special by Coldplay. It's quite entertaining and amusing, transporting you back to a time before the show's disappointing conclusion). The palate was introduced by the aforementioned tropical flavors, which are quite pleasant. More orchard fruits grace the tongue, characteristic Speyside sherry cask notes emerge mid-sip, and despite the rather thin texture on the palate, this is an enjoyable dram. There is absolutely no harshness from the alcohol; it almost feels like drinking fruit juice. The finish is short and bordering on excessively sweet, but given the journey so far, this outcome was likely predictable. It's not bad, mind you—just sweet. As I considered the whisky for a few moments after finishing the pour, I immediately thought of an excellent way to describe it: it's the leftover syrup from a canned fruit cup...with alcohol added. That substance is waxy, thin, fruity, sweet, and quite delicious! I possess a couple of bottles of this, as I assembled several complete sets anticipating a surge in collectibility. (It initially did, but Diageo shrewdly flooded the market, reducing demand.) Thanks to a sample pour from a friend, I can preserve my sets. Thank you again, friend. I acquired my bottles for $32 each, and a quick search revealed that the standard Gold Reserve costs around $42-45 online. Thus, I secured an excellent deal. It receives 3-3.25 stars for flavor, and I'll increase it slightly due to the $10 discount I received. Cheers, my friends. Now, the music: Game of what now? I'm a rastafarian, Targaryen I got some dragons and they're Very scary and Been here and there and then I've Been everywhere again Rastafarian, Targa... Call me Daenerys Targaryen When you wanna reach me And if you feel the love Then you can call me Khaleesi Got so many names I'm Queen of the Andals Queen of the Meereen Yeah! You can kiss m' sandals

Nose delivers an immediate blast of fruit, featuring ripe orchard fruits alongside tropical notes like mango and kiwi, with a touch of ripe strawberry. This quickly transitions to fruit that's past its prime, possibly stone or orchard fruit. Hints of honey, white tea, and cracked rainbow pepper emerge. The experience fades swiftly, leaving a sense of incompleteness. P: Biscuit, peach, and honey notes are present, with a floral element. Red fruit appears on the sides of the tongue. A touch of dark chocolate surfaces mid-palate. The finish initially evokes a holiday beer with peach and roasted pecan flavors. This sensation is brief, as the dominant characteristic of the finish becomes oak: hot and bitter, yet lacking sufficient intensity to be notable. Neither the heat nor the bitterness lasts long. A lingering white tea note persists slightly beyond the heat and tannins. The aroma is somewhat delicate and lacking, but otherwise quite pleasant. The palate is similar, offering enjoyable moments but never truly soaring. Overall, it drinks young. The quality seems present, suggesting a more aged version from Cardhu might be intriguing. However, this expression is largely unremarkable and passable. Edit: Upon review completion, I noted Cardhu's significant presence in Johnnie Walker. This connection is now undeniable, revealing a distinct Johnnie Walker character, or rather, a Cardhu character within JW. There's a familiar underlying malt sweetness with a slight mineral bite. This discovery adds a bit more interest to the bottle and piques my curiosity about aged Cardhu expressions, fulfilling a desire to deconstruct flavors and understand individual components before appreciating the whole. Eager to explore.

This special Game of Thrones edition is identical to the standard Cardhu Gold Reserve whisky. The question is whether the price increase is solely for the Game of Thrones artwork, which isn't even aesthetically pleasing. Bottled at 40% ABV, this is a typical Cardhu, very similar to the Gold Reserve. On the nose: a faint aroma of tobacco, lemon, grapefruit, caramel, and vanilla. Not particularly impressive. On the palate, it is very enjoyable with notes of coffee beans, toffee, tobacco, pepper, and oak spice. The finish is also pleasant, featuring a mild smoky note with hints of oak and sawdust. Overall, it's not a bad whisky. Perhaps the nose lacks intensity; I regret not noticing it was the same Cardhu Gold Reserve with a GOT label. Scored 84 out of 100.

Nose: All components are understated. Notes of caramel, spiced fruit, honey, oak, and buttered biscuit. Palate: Oak becomes more prominent. A slight sting from the alcohol provides a brief spark, but it's soon replaced by a pleasant honey taste. Hints of chocolate emerge. A whisper of brownie batter flavor. Finish: Fleeting. A touch of warmth. Silky. Overall Thoughts: While not spectacular, it's a solid drink. Its lack of intensity is compensated by its ease of drinking. I wouldn't refuse a pour, but among the GoT series, this is the one I've found least appealing.

Right away on the nose, there is a distinct honey aroma, possibly some spices and caramel apples. First sip (neat): Extremely delicate, similar to a red wine but with a pleasant light oak and a nice spicy flavor. With a drop of water added: An immediate apple aroma surfaces. Delightful! The taste is now quite mellow with a subtle sweetness. I think this would be an excellent introductory Scotch for newcomers. It will certainly be placed in the Guest Cabinet, reserved for esteemed visitors. Haha. Cheers! I might even consume the entire bottle myself, so no guarantees.

To me, honey is the most prominent note on this palate. It's a concentrated sweetness from the start, evident on the nose and persisting through the finish. Along the way, other notes emerge in smaller waves. Some bright fruits appear on the palate but are less noticeable on the nose. There's also a mild spice on the finish. It's not the most captivating of the Game of Thrones series, nor the most interesting Cardhu. However, it's very drinkable, particularly if you have a preference for sweetness (which I don't).