Cardhu 12 Years Review

“Barley Juice”

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Cardhu

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 12 years

ABV: 40 %

Cardhu in the Splendid Scottish Sunshine!

Colour: Light Golden

Nose: Sweet Barley, Nuts, Heather and other Floral tones, Straw, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Vanilla, Plum Jam, Dried Apricot, light Citrus, light Pineapple, light Oak, Light Apple, light Peach, Dusty Roads and hints of Milk Chocolate and Black Coffee that was brewed a couple of hours earlier. There's nothing wrong with the Nose and it's quite balanced and pleasant. But it's also rather boring for a Single Malt. Only the Barley really stands out.

The Small But Cosy Shop!

Palate: Thin and Watery Delivery. The Sweet Barley and Brown Sugar follow the Nose. I also find Toffee, light Vanilla, Dried Fruit, Dried Herbs, Red Currant Juice, light Citrus, light Pepper, light Cinnamon, Straw, Dry Oak and a hint of Cardamom.

The Stainless Steel Mashtun!

Finish: Quite Short and Sweet with Barley, Sugar, Orange Peel, Nut Shells, light Vanilla, Dry Earth, light Oak, light Spices and light Menthol.

Some of the Washbacks!

With a couple of drops of water the Nose gets even more Malt and a bit of Honey as well. But palate and Finish do not accept extra Water very well. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 83  

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5

Grey Warehouses under a Grey Sky!

General Remarks: Because of the large demand for the Cardhu Single Malt 12 Years in Spain and its importance for the JW Blends, there are not many other Distillery Expressions. In 2011 the 15 and 18 Years were released, basically in Southern Europe. And, in 2013, the 21 Year Old was introduced as a Special Release. The 12 Years matured in Ex-Bourbon Casks and sells at around 50 US Dollars.

Inside One of the Warehouses!

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good 

Conclusion: The Cardhu 12 Years won't disappoint beginning Whisky Drinkers as it's Soft, Smooth and Sweet and showcases familiar Aromas like Toffee, Vanilla and Assorted Fruits. But if you're already a seasoned Whisky lover you will find this Single Malt lacking in Personality, Depth and Complexity. The Nose is the best part of the Cardhu 12 Years. But on the Palate and in the Finish it's both utterly Drinkable and Forgettable! 

A Special Cask!

Some Data: Cardhu means Black Rock. The Distillery is located in Knockando , Morayshire, some eight miles South-West of Aberlour. It was founded in 1824 by John Cumming and was bought in 1893 by John Walker & Sons. Today it belongs to the Diageo Group. Cardhu Single Malt is mostly known as a very important part of the Johnnie Walker Blends but it has always been a very popular Single Malt in Spain. Today, Diageo is looking to reposition the Cardhu Single Malt in other markets  as well. The Distillery possesses a Stainless Steel Full Lauter Mash Tun, 10 Wash Backs and 3 Pairs of Stills. In 2013 their total production amounted to around 3,4 million litres. 

The Classic Tour Tasting!

The water for the distillery is sourced from a Spring on Mannoch Hill. From Easter to September, the Distillery opens from Monday - Friday from 10.00 to 17.00 hours, on Saturday from 10.00 to 17.00 (July-September) and also on Sunday from 12.00 to 16.00 (July September). From October to Easter it only opens from Monday to Friday from 11.00 to 15.00. You can do the Standard Tour at 4 Pounds, the Classic tour at 6 Pounds or the Aroma and Flavour Tour at 8 Pounds. The latter must be booked in advance.

Let the Nose do the Talking!

We visited Cardhu on Friday May 23, 2014. Unfortunately it rained again for most of the day. First we had a look at the cosy little Shop where I bought the Miniature of the 12 Years I'm reviewing today. It was a very quiet day at the Distillery with some maintenance going on. In fact we were the only visitors and got ourselves a private tour that was a bit dull because of said maintenance. A nice detail are the Nosing Tins with some of the main Cardhu Aromas and Flavours that help you prepare for the Tasting. At the end of the tour we tasted three little drams, amongst them the 12 Years and the NAS Special Cask Reserve. 

Jan van den Ende                                                             August 29, 2014

Cardhu Distillery! Hope to see it someday in the Sunshine!

Allt-A-Bhainne 1991 Signatory Review

“A Question of Balance”

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Allt-A-Bhainne 1991 (Signatory Vintage) - Cask Strength Selection

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 21 Years

ABV: 55 % 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Sweet Ripe Fruit like Mango and Pineapple. But also the specific Dutch treat "Beschuit Met Muisjes" (See Picture Below). It's a sort of Crispy Biscuit with Aniseed Topping. It's mainly served to celebrate the birth of a Son (Blue and White) or Daughter (Pink and White). Some Honey and Vanilla as well. The Alcohol is not totally integrated and stings a bit so be sure to give this Malt time to open up. With time, the Pineapple gets stronger and stronger and is now accompanied by Banana Ice Cream, Bread Dough and Orange. I'm not quite convinced by the Quality of the Cask. In all those long 21 years, it did not add a lot to the Aroma of the Spirit. Bitter Almonds mostly. This Bitterness and the Alcohol spoil some of the Nosing fun I'm afraid. A pity really! 

Beschuit Met Muisjes

Palate: Less Sweet than I expected after the Nose. Quite Punchy and Herbal actually. I find Orange Juice, Lemon, Herbal Tea, Vanilla, Banana, Mango, Oak, Caramel/Toffee, Honey, Pepper and Cinnamon. A hint of Tobacco as well.

Finish: Long, Sweet, Sour, Spicy and, unfortunately, quite Bitter towards the end with Malt, Orange (Juice), Toffee, Banana, Lemon, Honey, Heather, Grass, Oak and Herbal Tea.

With a bit of Water the Alcohol retreats of course and that's a good thing. On the Palate and in the Finish, Spices and Herbs starts to dominate. My advise is to Nose and Taste this Allt-A-Bhainne both Neat and with a bit of Water.

Rating: 84

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

The Allt-A-Bhainne Distillery!

General Remarks: This Allt-A-Bhainne was distilled on the 9th of July 1991 and was bottled on the 6th of October 2012. It matured in a Ex-Bourbon Hogshead (#90114). All Casks for the Cask Strength Selection Series are individually selected and bottled by Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd, from Pitlochry, Scotland. This particular Allt-A-Bhainne costs around 100 US Dollars. This recent distillery was founded in 1975 by Chivas Brothers, bought by Pernod Ricard in 2001. Most of the spirit goes into Blends, some is bottled as Single Malt under the name Deerstalker and some casks are bought by Independent bottlers.

Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd. is an independent bottler, founded in 1988 by Andrew - and Brian Symington. In 2002 they bought the Edradour Distillery.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: The Spirit of Allt-A-Bhainne is Nervous but Fruity and Pleasant. But in my opinion it needs First Class Wood to interact. And I don't think that's the case here. I believe this was a Refill Cask and it did not gave enough Aromas and Flavours to the Spirit. On the contrary, it added a certain Bitterness I could easily live without. The Allt-A-Bhainne 1991 is not a bad Single Malt but it does not deliver sufficiently to justify its price. I did like the Spirit however and I will try to find other Indie expressions.   

Jan van den Ende                                                            August 26, 2014