Cardhu 1973

Overall rating
87.30/100
votes
75
Whiskybase ID
WB3484
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Rare Malts Selection
Vintage
1973
Bottled
10.2000
Stated Age
27 years old
Strength
60.02 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Bottle code
L19N00957997
Barcode
5000267098760
Added on
31 aug 2008 11:50 am
Non-chillfilteredCask Strength

Average value

€ 1321.18

18 × in wishlist

75 × member ratings

161 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Cardhu 1973

21 users have left 21 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 87.30 points.

  1. MaltHaus scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    Right from the beginning, the first word that comes to my mind when savouring this Cardhu is ‘harmonious’. On the nosing front, there is incredible balance between its floral, fruity, malty and hints of smoke. Palate wise, it then easily moves from a remarkably energetic register to more gourmet sequences, which each more impressive than the last. To this, add to finish that revisits each component found on the nose and palate, further imprinting them on the memory.
    • Nose
      89 89
      A charming initial nose offers three olfactory sequences each more complex than the last. First sequence, the distillery very unique character of nutty aromas (walnut, hazelnut and almond). Second sequence: oily and ash smoke spreads across its contours and completely fills the aromatic palate. Floral (lilac, rose) and honey notes mark on the third part of the aromatic sequence. Allowed it to breath and with drops of water: hint of hessian, some spice and slight oakiness bring even more nobility and brilliance to aromatic palate. Next, extremely subtle fragrance of hollyhock bonsai invites you to take a deeper breath.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Big and energetic on arrival. Very malty, toasted marshmallow-like. The fore palate offer wavers of malted barley and extremely fruity (peach, pineapple, orange), it invites you to savour a delicious puree and pudding. The mid palate has a very delicate texture, which again, offers you with fresh fruits (apricot, nectarine) that lies on an orchard. The end of palate clearly evokes a very delightful waxy and oily notes. With water, it becomes increasingly floral, very assertive and more fruitiness. Plum, pear, tangy apple and pineapple brings out a lot of richness and freshness. Gradually, it softens a little with late flavour development.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Long. The nuttiness, floral and fruity have found a near perfect combination. All that remain is to enjoy the delicious florals and fruity flan it offers you. The very end of the palates like a bowl of fruit basket breakfast morning cereal. In combination of notes, both retro nasal and empty glass will leave you behind with a good memory that is full of characters. They also leave you a freedom to follow whichever path you might choose. Brilliant.

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  3. LiquidThoughts scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Has an intense character and its strengths, but is still a rather rough diamond, even for rare malts.
    • Nose
      Very malty-oaky and compact, at least no stinging at the 60%, some apricot, porcini, almost subtle Old Bottle Flavor impressions, moist rye bread, walnuts, heather grass
    • Taste
      Walnuts, porcini, then intense apricot, becoming more and more powerful, mirabelle plum, ginger, pecan nuts, hint of wasabi, malt, rye bread, leather, camphor
    • Finish
      Pecans, malt, ginger, peppers and zucchini, salt, apricot, medium length

  4. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    Class whisky with noticeable age, both from the barrel and from the distillation time and still a lot of power.
    • Nose
      Intensely fruity, waxy, dried apricots on the nose. Strong floral notes, plus some oak. Slightly spicy. Delicious.
    • Taste
      In the mouth, the 60% is quite noticeable, but behind it you can see a mature distillate, slightly acidic, fruity and lots of spicy oak.
    • Finish
      The finish shows oak, a few tart notes. Some boiled vegetables, dried apricots. Wood and spice, some mint.

  5. Luigisim scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    Love the sweet notes of this dram, red forest fruits. Powerful but very drinkable.

  6. Simo scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  7. Whisky.Hedonist.MY scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
      Big and loud, just like all the Rare Malts I've tried, this one is very malty and creamy with a nice honey and grassy nose. Kind of waxy as well. After a while, it becomes rather zesty. Some fruits notes (peach, nectarine) appear if you give it more time. Besides, there is a faint, sweet ashy note that comes and go, further enhance the entire nosing experience. Lovely.
    • Taste
      91 91
      A rather sweet arrival on the tip of tongue, intense and powerful flavor explosion follow up. Loads of malty flavor. Nice Rare Malt's signature thick and oily mouthfeel. Honey, some stone fruits, and pretty nutty towards the end, and a salty tang surprises you as well!
    • Finish
      88 88
      Nuttiness continues on the finish, quite fruity as well. Kind of old school in the form of waxy, malty and slight bit of oakiness. Very long.

  8. K C Wong scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  9. ConvalRen scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  10. -sAxo- scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  11. Jim_my_whisky did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    From Whiskyfun,

    Colour: pale gold. Nose: bigger of course than the new ones, as well as more complex, but there’s the same distillery character (nuttiness and maltiness plus whiffs of smoke). Develops on hints of olive oil, linseed oil and smoked ham as well as a little nougat, getting more honeyed after that (acacia). And is this lipstick? Much less ‘mundane’ than other Cardhus. With water: and unusual farminess, notes of patchouli, wet newspaper, wet hay... Very good surprise. Mouth (neat): powerful, very fruity (reminding me of the ‘SCR’ 07.04 we just had), with this enjoyable oiliness. Also notes of flower cordial (mullein), apple jelly... With water: it got maltier and, to tell you the truth, bigger than when neat. More grassy notes, a little wax, cider apples, ginger, white peaches... Good! Finish: long, balanced but assertive even if slightly middle-of-the-roadish now. Very good whisky anyway, even if I think the more recent 22yo 1982 was more interesting (90). 86 points for this one.

  12. sagara-kun scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Rather simple but balanced and successful.
    • Nose
      Nose beefy enough to not change with the rare malts.
      Solvent, wax, pepper, peach syrup, apple, white flower, coconut milk. Lemon zest, melon.
      Very slight dust and smell of diesel.
    • Taste
      On the palate it's round, on the yellow and white fruits.
      Apple, pear, apricot, peach. Cherry.
      Dust, wax, wood, cinnamon.
    • Finish
      Finale on oil, salt, yellow fruits and pepper. Cherry syrup.

  13. Hvdree scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  14. Kumachan scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    A whisky that did not entirely convince me. At such a price we obviously expect lights but as often this is not the case. Overall it's done well, it's good, but the alcohol is not well enough integrated and prevents the aromas to be distinguished. In addition, the final does not persist. If it had to be given a subjective note, it would be a 86.
    • Nose
      Gold dress. Tears long, heavy, fine and numerous. Ample, gingerbread, roasted pineapple. Needles of pine, burnt wood and thick smoked. As pastry chef I fruity with a redundant pink grapefruit and its zest. A roasted and spicy side, paprika, pepper. Prune and raisins. A nice candied and smoked nose in a delicate way.
    • Taste
      The mouth is very fat, very powerful too. The alcohol is felt then lets pass the roundness of dried fruits, crème brûlée and English cake. Sweet smoked, the hot pepper warms the tongue, grapefruit and plum close the way.
    • Finish
      The finish is medium on smoke, cocoa, mocha and pepper.

  15. pilgrim77 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Rocket fuel without water! With water to soften things up a bit, the nose releases a mixture of soft, ripe fruits (apple, pear and melon) alongside some freshly chopped herbs and industrial notes (diesel, oil and damp dunnage warehouses), all bathed in some gentle, salty smoke. A very old-school profile that is way more complex than most modern whiskies. They don't make 'em like this any more! More herbal and austere on the palate, with a sharp edge that could do with some tempering from sweet or creamy notes that don't materialise. Drying and slightly bitter notes (roast coffee beans) also linger into the finish, which is long, but drying and again austere. 

  16. St. Pauli scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    A very good whisky from an underrated distillery. I especially like the development from the nose into the taste and finish. It's a well balanced, complex, powerful and sooty whisky.
    • Nose
      Fragrant and welcoming, with flowers (lilies, violets), fruit (peach, orange (blossom)), creamy vanilla, tobacco, and a wee hint of peat smoke. It's not too bold, but very pleasant.
    • Taste
      It develops quite strongly towards a dirty side, with soot, oil, even paraffin, but certainly tobacco and mossy peat. Along with that, there is the fruitiness of orange, peach, pineapple and banana. Then, it's still creamy on vanilla custard, and edgy with some ginger and pepper.
    • Finish
      The finish is long, with a good balance between sour and bitter, and sweet associated. It's still sooty and dirty, with fresh yellow fruit of pineapple and lemon, some sweeter fruit like orange and peach, and then this long, creamy and spicy finale.

  17. Cast Olila scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      90 90

  18. GLEN MAUR scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  19. zby0001 scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  20. Allandale scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Light bodied and refreshing.
    • Nose
      Trace of peat smoke. Fragant and flowery. Fruity, peaches and sweet tangerines.Honey sweetness and cinnamon. Distinct malty notes.
    • Taste
      Fresh,clean sweetness.Hints of smoke and spice.Cinnamon again.Nuttiness,slightly bitter,as from combined almond.Peach stones flavours.
    • Finish
      Distant veils of peat smoke that drift away.Rather sweet with tangerine notes kept through the finale.

  21. Whisky1978 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Fruity. After adding some water more fruit.
    • Taste
      Fruity and some oil. After adding some water more fruit

  22. Feusi scored this whisky 78 points Connoisseur

    Strange impressions in the nose, salty sea with a little smoke? Dries the mouth out very strong, there remains a bitter smoke. Improved slightly after the addition of water, but I am not convinced.

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