Been some time since I visited the first batch of Diageo SR for 2021, and today I am about to taste the Cardhu 14. Cardhu might not be the sexiest of distilleries in the Diageo portfolio, but There are quite a few people who seem to like this malt (even outside Spain).
Not an awful lot of details about this one, but what I could find online is that the whisky was distilled in 2006 – Initially matured in re-fill American oak, it was then finished in red wine casks (no further details about the type of red wine or origin).
Cardhu 14 yo (2021 Special Release) , 55.5% , £115
Nose: Sweet and fruity with tons of ripe red apples up front, caramelized and fresh, with a nice touch of grapes and some spice. further nosing reveals sweet pastries, old school candy, ripe berries, and also a malty backbone underneath all the fruit, with a wee hint of waxy apple shavings.
Palate: The mouth is nice and sweet, with creamy vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, candied apples we’ve also detected on the nose, baked fruit (pear, apricot) in sweet syrup, alongside spices (pepper, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg). Rich and round, with sweet wine touches and hints of pink candy floss.
Finish: Short to medium with more candied apples, sweet syrup, and wood spices, alongside candy floss.
Conclusion: A rather enjoyable Cardhu indeed, leaning towards the sweeter side, highly drinkable stuff if you’re a fan of the profile.
Score: 85/100
still available online on the TWE site