Cardhu 16 Year Old is a cask-strength Speyside single malt from Diageo's 2022 Special Releases. Aged for 16 years in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in Jamaican rum casks, it is bottled at 58% ABV.
Cardhu is known for its light, honeyed Speyside style, and this Special Release adds a tropical twist. The rum cask finish brings ripe fruit and sweetness to the distillery's gentle character, while the high strength gives it real intensity.
The nose starts shy, with brioche and lemon drizzle cake, before opening into a big bowl of fresh fruit. The palate is bolder, with raspberries dipped in chocolate, damson and roasted pineapple, richly honeyed with tropical fruit and peppery wood spice.
The 2022 Special Releases were presented with fantastical artwork, and Cardhu's red label and tube show vivid, colourful birds among tropical foliage. It is a vibrant collectable from one of Scotch whisky's most anticipated annual series and a fine gift for a Speyside fan. Each year's Special Releases are bottled once, so when this edition is gone it will not be made again.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Brioche and lemon drizzle cake, opening to fresh fruit.
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Palate: Raspberries dipped in chocolate, damson and roasted pineapple, with honey.
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Finish: Tropical fruit and peppery wood spice.
Specifications
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Producer: Cardhu (Diageo Special Releases 2022)
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Style: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, cask strength
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Age: 16 years
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Proof / ABV: 116 proof (58% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: Ex-bourbon barrels, finished in Jamaican rum casks
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Region: Speyside, Scotland
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
At 58% ABV, taste it neat first, then add water a few drops at a time; the tropical fruit really opens up. It pairs with pineapple upside-down cake, dark chocolate or a mild cigar, and makes a lively gift for a collector.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Cardhu 16 finished?
After 16 years in ex-bourbon barrels, it was finished in Jamaican rum casks.
Is it cask strength?
Yes. It is bottled at 58% ABV.
Which series is it from?
Diageo's 2022 Special Releases.
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