Saturday 20th March 2010 Dougie came round to Jim’s with a carrier bag with a couple of Guinness’s, and this gave Jim the chance to open a bottle of malt and have a wee impromptu tasting.  Nicola still in Thailand was not at this wee event.

The tasting table was quickly set up and the bottle and it’s box inspected by Jim and Dougie.

Tonight’s tasting was to be :-

Cardhu Whisky - 12 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 40% Alc/vol

Cardhu Distillery,
Knockando,
Aberlour,
Banffshire,
AB38 7RY

telephone 01479 874635

website www.malts.com

Owners Diageo

Cardhu Whisky Distillery, previously called Cardow , is one one of the best located distilleries in Speyside. Sitting high on the hills on the north side of the Spey Valley with fabulous views to the south, it is also the home of Johnnie Walker, a world renowned blended Scotch Whisky.

The malt itself , which is presented in a grand decanter with a beechwood stopper, ( ideal for use as a water jug also) is pretty typical of a Speyside malt. It is very smooth, sweet, mellow and uncomplicated and has good body and length.
A friendly Speyside welcome awaits you at the Cardhu Distillery Visitors’ Centre, open April – October for guided tours.

To pre-book your tour, and get a lot of information please visit the distillery at www.discovering-distilleries.com
Also look up Malt of the Month August 09 for more details and information.

Well it is now time to get down to the tasting.

Cardhu 12 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 40% Alc/vol

Colour…Pure amber.

Jim’s tasting

Nose…Clean and delicate, chocolate/puff candy and honey quite complex - is there a touch of smoke in there?

Taste…A malty sweet dryness and a honey spice - a real tongue tingler.

Finish…Medium finish still giving sweet honey, but drying, a joy of a wee dram.

Score…3 corks

Dougie’s tasting

Nose…Soft ripe pears and a whiff of soft wood.

Taste…Smooth sweet malt and light oak spicy dryness, ( very little water required )

Finish…Medium with an oak and almond ending.

Score…3 corks

Overall score 3 corks

Well that certainly was a joy of a dram and no wonder it is the top selling single malt in Spain.  Jim and Dougie both agree that this is a malt that should always be available in our cupboard’s.

As this malt is not readily available in your local supermarkets we suggest you take a little time and locate a bottle either through the Internet or your specialist Whisky shop or even better go and visit the Distillery and purchase a bottle or two.

Remember when you visit the distillery tell them the Whisky Boys sent you.

Related Whisky Boy Posts:

1. Cragganmore Whisky - 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2. BenRiach Whisky - 10 Year Old, Single Peated Malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, Curiositas Peated Malt
3. Glen Moray Whisky - 12 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
4. Macallan Whisky - Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
5. Glen Moray Whisky - Single Speyside Scotch Malt Whisky