Cadenhead Loch Lomond 9yo Authentic Collection April 2026 & Cadenhead Burnside 29yo Authentic Collection April 2026

Cadenhead Loch Lomond 9yo Authentic Collection April 2026

Region: Highlands

ABV: 66.9%

Price: £60.00

Distilled in 2016 and bottled in April 2026, this single cask Loch Lomond was finished in a Palo Cortado hogshead from 2023 before bottling for Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection. Outturn of 276 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with Werther’s Originals, Caramac bars, and Galaxy Caramel. There are also notes of thyme and basil. The alcohol is well integrated with just a hint of pepper spice. Going back and we also find Cadbury Chomp bars and pears. It is hard to get past the dominant chocolate and caramel notes not that we’re saying that’s a bad thing. Simple, but enjoyable.

Palate

The palate mirrors the nose, but comes with a heavy whack of alcohol spice upfront. Followed by notes of chocolate, Cadbury fudge fingers, Del Monte pear halves, and brown sugar. A medium length finish follows with plenty of pepper spice. Very similar to the nose, and again a little simple, but the mouthfeel is nice and syrupy.

Nose (with water)

Water has intensified the ethanol on the nose. There is a Vegemite like note, along with yeast and a bready quality. We also find sour cherries and pistachios. It feels less like it’s opened up and more changed. The chocolatey notes are still there, but they require a little patience to find.

Palate (with water)

Water has reduced the spice, and the palate has picked up a jasmine note along with some coffee. The mouthfeel has held up and the finish remains a good length, but some of the sweeter notes we enjoyed pre dilution have now disappeared.

Conclusion

Good neat, but just a little too spicy for us. There is probably an excellent dram in here if you can find the right balance with water. One we will enjoy experimenting with to see what flavours we can tease out.

Score: 7/10

Value

Decent price considering the distillery, monstrous ABV, and cask type.

Cadenhead Burnside 29yo Authentic Collection April 2026

Region: Speyside

ABV: 53.4%

Price: £185.00

Distilled in 1996 and matured for 29 years in a bourbon hogshead, this Burnside was bottled in April 2026 for Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection. Outturn of 258 bottles.

Nose

On the nose we get orange peel, satsuma, lime cordial, fudge, caramel, and toffee, along with strawberry Chewits and raspberry Fruit Pastilles. Alcohol spice is minimal. It is lovely and fruity, though it wasn’t obvious to us that this is an older whisky.

Palate

The palate opens with tobacco, Cadbury Caramel, honeycomb ice cream, and Crunchie. A hint of pepper spice appears on the good length finish. Going back, we find strawberry Chewits, raspberry fruit pastilles, and that satsuma note from the nose. The mouthfeel is good and nicely coating. Again, it does not come across as old as 29 years.

Nose (with water)

With water, the nose on the dram becomes less fruity. We now find flat lemonade and a musty cupboard note. As we sit with it we find it turns much more citrus forward, with those notes replacing many of the pre dilution aromas.

Palate (with water)

With water it is spicier, with added dark chocolate bitterness and burnt brown sugar. It also becomes woodier, with a hint of dried peanuts and a little honey. The mouthfeel has held up, as has the finish. We’re starting to see some of that age now.

Conclusion

Personally, we would skip the water as we prefer the fruitier pre-dilution notes. While the nose and palate do not give away the age as much as we were expecting, that is not necessarily a bad thing, as what we do have here is a very fruity, very tasty dram.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Given the age, we cannot really complain about the price.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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