Cardhu Distillery Exclusive Bottling Cask #Batch 1

A Cardhu, a distillery bottling, cask Batch 1, at 48%, 2502 bottles in all. Cardhu is a light, approachable Speyside single malt from near Knockando. It sits among the gentle hills above the River Spey near Archiestown.

It was worked through the pear shaped stills for a light, honeyed make, for the soft, sweet make Cardhu is known for. A wine cask finish layered fruit over the honeyed malt. Carrying no age, soft vanillin (vanilla) and a honeyed pear suggest a fair spell in cask. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards honey, dried fruit and a soft spice. Most of its make goes into Johnnie Walker, with a little bottled as single malt. Its malt has been the heart of the Johnnie Walker blends ever since. Water comes from springs on Mannoch Hill and the Lyne Burn. It runs three wash and three spirit stills, all of a pear shape. The Cumming family ran it for three generations before it passed to the Walkers.

At cask strength 48% it is full bodied. A gentle, fruity sweetness, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. Pear, honey and a creamy malt fill the middle. The finish runs gentle, fruity and easy. This is a gentle, fruity Speyside malt of real charm.