Cadenhead’s Enigma Irish Whiskey 10yo & Cadenhead’s Enigma Speyside 16yo

Cadenhead’s Enigma Irish Whiskey 10yo

Region: Ireland

ABV: 44.3%

Price: £75.00

As usual, there’s limited information available on this Enigma release, but we do know it was distilled in 2006 and matured exclusively in bourbon barrels until February 2025, with a total of 726 bottles released. In case you’re wondering about the 10-year age statement on the bottle, this likely means that Cadenhead’s moved the cask from Ireland to Scotland after 10 years, as any maturation outside of Ireland wouldn’t count towards the official age statement. 

Nose

The nose opens with a little candied ginger, lemon posset, tinned mango chunks, fizzy apple sweeties and sherbet dip dabs. It's a very sweet nose, although it feels slightly empty, watery, there's not much body here. Going back, we're finding buttercream frosting, stewed green grapes and a very light eucalyptus note in the background.   

Palate

The palate opens with a bit of a leathery note, moving into lots of sugar syrup, candied lemon peel, freshly squeezed apple juice and key lime pie. The initial sip is a little astringent and rough, a little bit of black liquorice, but it moves quickly into mellow fruits and citrus. It's very juicy, the alcohol gives it a tiny bit of a kick but it's super easy to sip. The mouthfeel is reasonable for the ABV, and the finish does linger on for a decent while with desiccated coconut and a bit of vanilla custard.  

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose is a little more acidic, alongside a little more menthol than before. There's more lime, a touch of pickle brine, and more barley sugars coming through. We're still getting the mango, but it's further in the background now.  

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has more maltiness now, the coconut is now toasted and we're getting stewed fruits compared to the fresher fruits before. The mouthfeel and finish are broadly the same, so adding water really is to the drinker's personal preference.  

Conclusion

It's a dram that's chock full of fruity sweetness, with a bit of maltiness in the background. It feels a bit light for us, lacking a bit of body and heft, but that works with the overall profile of the whiskey. One for an easy Sunday morning. 

Score: 6.5/10

Value

Good price given the liquid in the bottle is nearly twenty years old. 

Cadenhead’s Enigma Speyside 16yo

Region: Speyside

ABV: 51.9%

Price: £80.00 

This secret Speyside release was distilled in 2008, and transferred into a Pineau des Charentes casks in 2020, before bottling in February 2025. 714 bottles were released. 

Nose

The nose opens with brandy snaps, ginger juice, clove spice, grape skins and crushed coriander seed. The Pineau des Charentes cask has really had an impact on this, we're getting more fortified wine notes than whisky notes here. Time and air brings out melon balls, green tea leaves, warm honey notes and some tinned pineapple too.  

Palate

The palate has lots of juicy orchard fruits up front, apples and pears galore, with dustings of icing sugar. Behind this sits a rye-like spice, candied ginger, cloves and a hint of star anise too. There's a prickly spice here, not peppery but one the leaves a tingle on your tongue long into the finish. The mouthfeel is decently syrupy, and we're getting milk chocolate and cherry liqueur as the dram moves into the good length finish.   

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose gets drier, with dried leaves, young French brandy spirit, lots more grape must and some overly-toasted brioche bread. It's a little astringent now, and we're finding the cask is even more prominent than before - perhaps not in the best way.  

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has more upfront citrus, lots of lime, moving into richer toffee and vanilla fudge flavours. There's still some ginger here and the brandy is noticeable, but there's a sweetness that's riding through the palate keeping things in check. Overall we'd avoid water as it impacts the nose too much, whereas it doesn't help the palate enough. 

Conclusion

The nose here was a bit concerning, lots of Pineau des Charentes aromas and not much more, however the palate brought the dram back into balance. It's got quite an interesting fruity and spicy mix that moves into richer chocolate and cherry flavours as it develops. One to sit with for a while.

Score: 7/10

Value

Like most Cadenhead releases this is a good price for the age and cask type.

• 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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