Cardhu 14 Year (2021 Special Release)

“Diageo Special Releases 2021” tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 22 June 2022. Whisky #1 Nose (neat): Light honey, grains, peach, pear, gooseberry, elderflower, marshmallow. There is that floral note which is typical of whiskies that receive red wine cask maturation. Adding water causes the wine cask influence to amplify and over time, and as this sits and rests a dusky floral aroma as of musk-flavoured sweets arises. This musky note eventually becomes the dominant aroma on the nose. Palate: A spiky arrival with orchard fruits and some berries as the main flavour. Marshmallow again in the development together with thinned honey, barley sugar, caramel, vanilla and hot spice. The texture is good but not particularly special. With the addition of water, it becomes more syrupy but also develops bright acidic heat. Finish: Medium. Grainy, citrus. Water turns the finish a touch sour and grassy with black pepper in the aftertaste. An above average whisky but not a great one, at least for my taste. It has a pretty nose combined with a somewhat harsh palate and I much preferred it neat than with water, which tends to amplify all the spiky and hot characteristics. I didn't get around to trying last year's Cardhu Special Release, but I did review the 2019 version here and gave it 80/100. Oh well, the score is slowly improving, I guess. Core range Cardhu expressions at low strength have always seemed rather middle-of-the-road to me with their tame honey and grain profile that works well for a filler malt in blends, but lacks the character required for a really good single malt. This cask-strength expression follows a different path entirely, but I didn't think the journey is rewarding or that the entry price is justified. Apart from completionist set collectors I can’t imagine anyone buying this. A straw poll at the end of the tasting revealed it to be the favourite malt of the night for exactly 0 people. “Above Average” : 81/100 (3 stars)

Today i managed to get my hands on a 2021 Diageo Special release from the distillery that is the heart lf Johnnie Walker, Cardhu. I am not a fond fan of Cardhu, i find it mostly boring and too straightforward. I have had quite a few expressions and i am still waiting to be impressed. This natural cask strength release, was bottled at 55.5%abv and has been finished in red wine casks. On the nose, it is quite aromatic. Grapefruit, impalpable sugar, acetone and a super floral note that is overwhelming. Roses, goosebeeries. Farm fruits, very clean notes here. This is the best aroma i have ever found in a Cardhu so far. There is definitively some spiciness here. Burnt hay. After a second sip? I got chocolate and toffee; hints of lemon. On the palate, this is different from most Cardhus. Red fruits, pineapple; toffee madness.  Dulce de leche. Salted caramel. Very enjoyable. Aftertaste follows the same rythm with a twist. It is like small toffee pieces,  crazy dips lollipop. Salted caramel and acid fruits, very appealing. Overall, this is by far the best Cardhu i have ever had. It is not a life changing experience, but this is definitively better that any other expression i have tasted before. The cask strength and red wine finish has imparted really nice floral and farm fruit notes that are very appealing. My score for it is 92 over 100, scoring 23 points in every criteria.

먼저 나눔 주신 엘리너스님 감사합니다! 카듀 14cs 2021 4.2 향 벌꿀, 꿀사과 레몬류 시트러스 꼬릿한 향 달달하면서도 상큼한데 또 꼬릿한향이 섞여서 재밌다. 맛 찌르르르 하게 혀를 쪼여주고 달콤하다. 산미가 마셔봤던 위스키중에 손에 꼽을정도로 인상적이다 요거트 노트 얘기가 있어서 찾아보려했는데 잘 모르겠다. 피니쉬 후추 같은 스파이시가 느껴짐 도수대비 타격감이 쎄진 않고 술술 물처럼 넘어간다. 총평 레드와인 피니시라는데 왜 화이트와인 노트같은지 신기했다 ㅋㅋ 맛있었지만 제가 cs를 크게 선호하는편이 아닌데다 피니시가 아쉬워서 바틀 구매 의사는 없습니다

This is absolutely glorious. The nose is soft and is immediately reminiscent of a ripe mango and rum, and the palate continues this with the addition of orange honey and honeysuckle. The finish is medium and the sweetness lingers as white grape and other tropical fruit notes carry you off into the sunset.

Fruity acidic floral notes come through heavily on the nose. Lightness stays on palate. Almost citrus and green.

Not much nose, spicy light wine. Great balance of malt and wine. Light spice fruits. Medium wine spice finish