It’s been a rough few nights at work lately and I need to get back on track with the other guys in our tasting group. So, I randomly grabbed a sample and plopped down on the couch. I poured the Cardhu 12, graciously supplied by Paul, into the Glencairn and leaned back to rest my eyes for a bit. Well, a bit became 35 minutes before I snapped back to life. Gotta give it time to breath, yeah- that’s the ticket... The juice is a wonderful, light gold in color and giving a spin leaves a full sticky oil slick around the entire inside of the taster. I caught a quick whiff of honey and vanilla before I set it back down. The full nosing experience is sort of unremarkable if you’re looking for complexity. It’s a Speysider filled with sweet honey, some tropical fruits and light oak barrel notes. Pleasant, for sure. The palate is all toffee-covered tropical fruit. The oily look in the glass isn’t really present on the tongue, but the vanilla really lingers more than anything else I’ve detected to this point. The 40% ABV doesn’t add any heat and there’s little to no warmth lingering into the finish. I can see why this stuff is used heavily by Johnnie Walker. There is no way anyone can be offended by this malt. It’s fruity and very light. The finish is lightning quick with just more honey sweetness ringing through. It’s a true warm weather malt that would leave you still shivering on a brisk, autumn evening. I can’t find anything wrong with this one. It ticks off all the typical Speyside bullet points and is perfect for chilling with friends and enjoying a whisky session. 3.5-3.75 stars. Thanks again Paul. Solid stuff.