Cardhu 14 years old Special Release 2021 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55,5%

Cardhu is known as the gentle one. Then came 2021, when Diageo gave the distillery fourteen years, wine casks and 55.5% — and suddenly the gentle one was not gentle at all.

Expert description

Cardhu 14 years Special Release 2021 is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in wine casks and bottled at 55.5%.

The bottle is called The Scarlet Blossoms of Black Rock and belongs to Diageo's annual Special Releases series, where eight distilleries each year show a side of themselves you do not otherwise see. For Cardhu that meant a finish in wine casks, laying dark fruit and a dry, almost tannic edge over the usual house honey. The series is released once and never repeated.

Tasting notes

Nose

Red berries and plum first, then honey and baked apple underneath. The wine cask brings a dry, almost dusty spice, and the strength reads as warmth rather than sharpness.

Palate

Powerful and juicy. Cherry, dark chocolate and orange peel, with Cardhu's honeyed sweetness beneath it all. The oak tightens things up in the middle and gives a dry grip the 12 year old simply does not have.

Finish

Long and dry, with red berries, cocoa nibs and a spiced warmth that stays put.

Specifications

Name: Cardhu 14 years Special Release 2021 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55,5%
Distillery: Cardhu
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 55.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in wine casks
Edition: Special Release 2021 The Scarlet Blossoms of Black Rock
EAN no.: 5000267186696

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spiced · Honeyed · Red Berry · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. Special Releases appear in a single run per year and are never made again. Older editions of the series have risen noticeably as they left the shelves.

Did you know?

The Special Releases series began in 2001 as a way of getting rare casks out of Diageo's warehouses. Several of the distilleries featured over the years no longer exist, which is exactly why the series has become one of the most closely watched annual events in Scotch whisky.

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Frequently asked questions about Cardhu 14 years Special Release 2021

How does this differ from the Cardhu 12 years?

The wine cask finish and the strength. Where the 12 year old is soft and honeyed at 40%, this one has red berries, dry tannins and 55.5% behind it. Same distillery, completely different experience in the glass.

Is it worth seeking out?

The rarity argues for it. Diageo makes only one run per year of the Special Releases and never repeats them. On top of that, Cardhu rarely appears in the series, and wine casks are unusual for the distillery.

What does a wine cask finish do?

The whisky first matures in its main cask and is then moved to casks that previously held wine. The final months add red berries, dried fruit and a dry tannic edge without erasing the underlying character.

Should I add water?

Try it neat first. At 55.5% it is powerful but not aggressive. A couple of drops loosen the red fruit and soften the oak, but move carefully, because it loses body quickly.

Which glass suits it best?

A tulip-shaped glass gathers the aromas and makes the wine cask fruit clearer. A wide tumbler lets too much escape at this strength.

What are Diageo Special Releases?

An annual series in which Diageo bottles selected casks from its distilleries in limited numbers, often at cask strength and in unusual wood. It has run since 2001 and is followed closely by collectors.