Cardhu 16 Years Old

A 16 year old Cardhu, a distillery bottling, at 58.2%, 3000 bottles in all. Cardhu is a soft, sweet Speyside single malt distilled near Archiestown since 1824. It was rebuilt and expanded by Elizabeth Cumming, the Queen of the Whisky Trade, who sold it to John Walker and Sons in 1893.

It was drawn off three pairs of pear shaped stills, giving the light, honeyed Speyside spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the sweetness lead. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the fruit deepening to honey. The pear shaped stills give a light spirit that ages with grace. Water comes from springs on Mannoch Hill and the Lyne Burn. Most of its make goes into Johnnie Walker, with a little bottled as single malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Cardhu is one of the most famous of the women built distilleries of Speyside.

At cask strength 58.2% it is full bodied. Soft pear, apple and a gentle honey, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is gentle and sweet, the soft spirit shining through. A smooth, honeyed finish ends on pear and vanilla. This is a smooth Speyside single malt from near Knockando.