Tasting notes by Serge Valentin (WhiskyFun.com)

Cardhu 27 yo 1973/2000 (60.02%, Rare Malts)

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.