First Impressions
Cardhu 12 is the textbook gentle Speysider — pale gold, soft on the nose, and built around honeyed malt.
Distillery & Heritage
Cardhu sits high above the Spey at Knockando, founded in 1824 by John Cumming but really run by his wife Helen, who had been distilling illicitly for years and famously raised a red flag above the farm to warn the neighbours when excise officers were riding through. Her daughter-in-law Elizabeth Cumming rebuilt the distillery in 1884 and sold it to John Walker & Sons in 1893, making Cardhu the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker.
Tasting Notes in Detail
The nose is classic light Speyside: pear drops, vanilla, honey and a dusting of cereal. The palate keeps it soft — golden apple, malt loaf, almond and a touch of nutmeg.
Verdict
A genuinely lovely, undemanding dram.
