An Unbelievable Buy in Mature Collectible Scotch
Cadenhead’s 30 Year Old “7 Star” Cask Strength
Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($149.99)

“This spectacular expression from the historic bottler Cadenhead’s is simply unlike anything else on the shelf. If this same whisky said Chivas or Johnnie Walker on the label, it would come in a crystal decanter and cost $2,000.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

Our spirits team forges ahead undaunted in their mission to combat the skyrocketing prices in the collectible Scotch market, and this latest find from a historic bottler is a master stroke for savvy buyers everywhere. There’s simply no reason why an unadulterated, 30-year-old, cask-strength Scotch whisky should be selling for less than four figures these days, let alone for just over $100. But Cadenhead’s is a rare light in the Scotch world, and their unparalleled stocks of fully mature barrels give them raw materials against which other bottlers simply can’t compete. The quality is unimpeachable, the price is unbelievable, and the supply is limited, so don’t think twice about stocking up.

Cadenhead’s 30 Year Old “7 Star” Cask Strength Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($149.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 20, 2023

Tough to argue with this one—it’s a fool-proof whisky with incredible specs from a legendary bottler with impeccable pricing, and it tastes amazing. The nose is old-school cool. Deep sherry that leans heavy on the chocolate and orange zest along with candied nuts and raisins. It’s basically trail mix in a glass! A little dusty, a lot sweet, a touch savory, and so well balanced. Crunchy malt and sweet nougat hit the palate, and a blend of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and tobacco leaf rounds out a complex array of fruit cake spices and fresh bread. In today’s whisky landscape with sky high prices, it is easy to forget that for the folks who’ve been in the game for decades, the cost of raw goods and long-term storage of those casks is actually shockingly low. Cadenhead is basically flexing its muscle and long-term cred by selling this whisky at such a low price. Surely by auctioning off the component whiskies of this blend to the highest bidder they would have made more money, but they are and have always been about the whisky and the drinker, and that is why they are so well loved by Scotch enthusiasts.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 16, 2023

This spectacular expression from the historic bottler Cadenhead’s is simply unlike anything else on the shelf. If this same whisky said Chivas or Johnnie Walker on the label, it would come in a crystal decanter and cost $2,000. But what this has that the big blends don’t is real soul and not junk. It checks every geek box and then some. No chill-filtration, no coloring, cask-strength, 30-year-old Scotch finished in oloroso sherry casks for $150? Come on man. Cadenhead’s still has something up their sleeve. Rumor has it that they control a huge stock of old barrels, but no one knows for sure except the man himself, Hedley Wright. The enigmatic owner of Cadenhead’s and Springbank is rarely seen in public, but he allows his blending team access to an incredible array of old and rare barrels for projects like this one. No telling what’s in the blend, but we can’t get malt or grain of this quality at cask strength from any normal channels at this price point, so this really is one of the best values in the category today. It’s not a closeout or some screw up, just really good, limited-edition Scotch whisky at an amazing price. Let’s have a go. The color is a beautiful deep copper. After 30 minutes in the glass, there’s a gorgeous, nutty oloroso character up front. Behind that stewed stone fruits, maple syrup, candied walnut, and sticky caramel. On the palate, it has great weight, with all the sweetness front-loaded. Striking nougat, creamy roasted almonds, sweet herbs, and a tiny spicy backbone poking up at the end. It’s so incredibly balanced I can’t imagine adding water, but a tiny drop opens the fruit and the sweetness. This is just damned good whisky on any scale. Perhaps if you’re looking for a hammer like a Kavalan Cask Strength then you’d reach somewhere else, but most lovers of Scotch will likely find themselves polishing this bottle off in just a few sittings. It’s truly lovely and arguably one of the most affordable whiskies on the shelf for the quality.

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