Occasionally, a friend of us asks: “Why do you always review independent bottlings? If I’m at the supermarket and I want to buy a bottle of whisky I can’t find the Silver Seal Port Ellen!”. It’s sadly true. So today we reviewed the most successful Diageo single malt (and Diageo owns quite a lot of distilleries…). Cardhu, located on a lovely hill in the middle of Speyside, produces a whisky that is much popular in Spain (surely a lot of bottles have been opened on Sunday after the World Cup final…). Thanks to the Spanish taste, Cardhu is the best selling Diageo’s single malt in the world (followed by Talisker). Anyway, after 12 years this light golden malt is bottled at 40% ABV in a strange and unmistakable bottle.

N: in spite of the low ABV, the alcohol is definetely too harsh. And the bold sugary maltiness appears watery. Lemon on one side, raisins on the other. Its malty semplicity reminds us of the Glenrothes Select Reserve. Intermittenly you can smell a faint scent of flowering meadow. Some honey? Pear? Peaty hints (not smoky) peep. Unpleasant notes of wet cardboard after a while…

P: it’s very drinkable, but not in a positive way: the body is too thin. Gently malty (cereals, muesli) and slightly fruity (pear). Shy hints of milk chocolate and honey. Even shier is that evanescent note of peat…

F: malt. And that’s it. And something like Fragolino wine.

We tasted it on two different occasions and we must admit that it’s definetely less bland if drunk at summer temperature. It’s better than some blended, but its success is only explained by the use in mixology… Anyway, it’s very simply at a low ABV that doesn’t allow any grip. Nevertheless, it’s decent: 77/100.

Recommended soundtrack: Marillion – Kayleigh.