Cardhu Gold Reserve Single Malt Scotch Review

By Alex Southgate

Rating: B+

I’m the sort of person that loves to try new things and this is absolutely true when it comes down to Scotch. The thing about Scotch Whisky is there is so much to try and always something new to learn, and for me this is very true when it comes to the Cardhu family of malts. So I’ve now become better acquainted with Cardhu Gold Reserve Single Malt.

Cardhu comes from one of the oldest Speyside distilleries, and the basic Cardhu is a classic among widely available, inexpensive single malts. The Gold Reserve comes from oak barrels selected by the Master Blender, which is where the upmarket aspect of a no age statement whisky is supposed to come from. Fruitier and smoother than the standard 12 year old expression, this whisky has been bottled at a cask strength of 40%.

The Scotch
The Cardhu Gold Reserve is a very enticing whisky from the start. The Stylish gold box reveals a chunky, square bottle that is really pleasing to the eye. The contents are a deep honey in the bottle, something that carries over to the glass on the pour. I have to admit I couldn’t wait to take a sip on looks alone and the nose only added to my desire to give it a try.

The nose starts with the aroma of sweet honey which is paired with vanilla and roasting barley. This sweetness carries into smooth toffee. Orange with a hint of cinnamon complete the scent, these drier notes being backed with warm oak.

Honey is very much a theme with this Scotch and this is something that carries over to the taste. This sweetness is tempered with the crisp fruitiness of apple and pear. The finish is warm and spicy with baked notes and a gentle whisper of peat.

I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a sweet tooth, but the Cardhu Gold Reserve is making a very pleasant change from the savory Single Malts I’ve been sampling of late. It has to be noted that when I say sweet I’m by no means confusing this with sickly. The fruit coming through in this expression cuts the notes of honey very nicely and leaves the palate feeling clean and ready to go back for more.

This might just have become one of my new favorites and is certainly up there in terms of my hot picks for 2023. Having said this, there isn’t anything particularly stunning or new when it comes to this whisky and it probably won’t win any awards for innovation. This doesn’t stop it from being a very enjoyable dram and now that I’ve discovered it, it’s a Scotch that I think I’ll find myself going back to regularly. This bottle would probably be suited as a good all rounder for those of you that select a Scotch based on an occasion.

The Price
Cardhu Special Reserve Single Malt is coming in at £48 UK, though I’m sure if you look hard enough you’ll be able to find this bottle for less than that. I found mine on offer at £27 UK so it can definitely be done.