Cardhu | Whisky Den

Bought: Tesco, 3^rd March 2015

Ratings:
78.38/100 – Whiskybase (average from 28 member votes)

This NAS (non age statement) Cardhu was released in 2014. Initial reviews on Whiskybase weren’t very good (low 70s out of 100) but after 28 votes it’s above 78/100. Unfortunately that suggests the ‘Gold Reserve’ is a fairly average whisky. Looking on Amazon, there are 11 reviews for the Gold Reserve, 9 of which give 5/5 stars, and 2 give 4/5. One of the reviewers that gave 4 stars only docked a star because the bottle is cheaper in supermarkets even when Amazon have reduced it in a ‘lightening deal’. That’s hardly the fault of the whisky!

Comments on Amazon include “delicate and mellow”, “gorgeous”, “subtle flavours and a warm finish” and “much too nice to share”. Overall, it seems this new Cardhu is well liked, at least by Amazon customers.

For an insight into the taste of the Gold Reserve, here is a video by Horst Luening:

Bought – Tesco, 14th November 2013

Ratings:
83/100 – Whisky Bible 2013
83/100 – Ralfy, of www.ralfy.com
Review: – Ralfy – Cardhu 12yo – YouTube

Wow, Ralfy and Jim Murray agree! 83 points each. But in the Whisky Bible 2009, Jim Murray scored the Cardhu 12yo as 90/100. In his opinion the quality has slipped based on a change in the wood being used for the casks. 90/100 means “brilliant” but 83/100 still qualifies as “good whisky worth trying”. As Ralfy says it’s a good example of a Speysider and a nice entry-level malt for someone whose wanting to get into drinking whisky.

Cardhu is one of the eight Speyside distilleries on the Malt Whisky Trail. If you’re interested in a visit then take a look at Discovering-Distilleries.com. Cardhu has plenty of history since John Cumming took out a lease on Cardhu farm in 1811. The distillery is considered to be the spiritual home of the Johnnie Walker blend, which is still the principal blend Cardhu is used for today.