Johnnie Walker 18 Years Old Rich, Elegant & Fragrant (John Walker & Sons)

Johnnie Walker 18 Years Old Rich, Elegant & Fragrant (John Walker & Sons) is a blended Scotch from John Walker and Sons, with Cardhu at its heart. Cardhu has been the heart malt of Johnnie Walker since the Cummings sold the distillery to the Walkers in 1893. It was founded in 1824 by John Cumming, whose wife Helen ran it and flew a flag to warn of the excisemen.

Cardhu's smooth, sweet malt is the kind that built Johnnie Walker. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and honey under the fruit. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards honey, dried fruit and a soft spice. It sits among the gentle hills above the River Spey near Archiestown. It runs three wash and three spirit stills, all of a pear shape. Years in oak round the spirit, the apple and pear deepening to honey. The Cumming family ran it for three generations before it passed to the Walkers. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation in the Cardhu warehouses.

At an approachable 40% it is soft and easy. Soft orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice run through it, smooth and approachable. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. A smooth, honeyed finish ends on pear and vanilla. A characterful blended Scotch.