Cadenhead Orkney 8yo (Enigma IND.1.B) & Cadenhead Highland 40yo (Enigma HIG.3.A)

Cadenhead Orkney 8yo (Enigma IND.1.B)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 57.5%

Price: £55.00

Distilled in 2016 and fully matured in bourbon barrels, this Orkney single malt was bottled in August 2025 at eight years old and released as part of Cadenhead’s Original Collection September 2025 outturn.

Nose

The nose opens with plain Walkers crisps and an apple turnover topped with whipped cream, before moving into pineapple and lychee. With patience some caramel sauce and a bright citrus hit of tangerines and lemon appears. Vanilla essence, barley sugars, cracked black pepper and a little fresh bread sit behind these notes. Good alcohol balance for the ABV.

Palate

The palate has sweet vanilla buttercream and vanilla ice cream, a hint of flat lemonade, caramel fudge and a wisp of tobacco. A warming pepper spice develops alongside a little honey and more whipped cream on the mid palate. The finish is medium length, balancing sweetness and spice. The mouthfeel is good lightly coating our tongues.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose is largely unchanged but a little tighter. Sitting with it some charred oak and toffee popcorn appear, along with a touch of singed orange peel and a little more spice.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate turns a touch drier with a light dark chocolate bitterness and more spice on the finish. Chocolate bonbons and a Negroni like citrus bitterness come through. It is interesting, though less easy drinking than neat.

Conclusion

A solid bourbon cask Orkney that gives us more Highland Park vibes than Scapa. Some may enjoy a few drops of water, but we’ll stick with the easier going undiluted profile.

Score: 7/10

Value

You would be hard pushed to find cask strength whisky cheaper than £55.

Cadenhead Highland 40yo (Enigma HIG.3.A)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 44.5%

Price: £450.00

Distilled in 1985 and fully matured in bourbon hogsheads, this undisclosed Highland single malt was bottled in August 2025 at 40 years old as part of Cadenhead’s Original Collection September 2025 outturn.

Nose

The nose opens with pine cones and a touch of red berries, then warehouse funk. It feels restrained rather than tight. Custard cream biscuits, butterscotch and freshly shaved wood follow with patience. Behind these there’s some tertiary notes of Strawberry fromage frais, brown sugar and Caramac. As you’d expect any spice from the alcohol is very mellow. It really needs a little time to properly open up.

Palate

The palate has an unexpected burst of sweetness that’s more reminiscent of a refill sherry cask than bourbon. Behind that there’s some caramelised brown sugar, grapefruit, orange peel, Cadbury fudge fingers, and simple syrup. The medium finish gains more spice than we’d expect given the age. The mouthfeel is a touch thin. the finish is medium length and also has a little dark chocolate bitterness lingering. Not as complex as we were expecting.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose brings more obvious cask influence: icing sugar, and marshmallows. There’s also something floral starting to appear, alongside hints of hessian cloth and a gentle wood spice.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate shows more upfront orange peel, less spice, and a touch more dark chocolate bitterness. The mouthfeel improves slightly. Plenty of cask forward notes linger on the still medium-length finish, and we’re reminded of Tunnock’s Tea Cakes.

Conclusion

A delicate nose that, unfortunately, promises more than the palate delivers. It’s pleasant and clearly mature, yet it feels a little hollow and never quite blossoms in the way we’d want whisky of this age to. Nice to drink, but not a bottle we need to seek out.

Score: 7/10

Value

Expensive, but hardly surprising for a 40 year old malt. It is also cheaper than you will see from most indie bottlers.

• 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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