Cardhu Gold Reserve House Targaryen is a Speyside single malt bottled at 40% ABV, released by Diageo in 2018 as one of eight expressions in the official HBO Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection. It's a repackaging of Cardhu's existing Gold Reserve — first launched in 2014 — rather than a new liquid, matured in toasted ex-Bourbon oak casks as a no-age-statement (NAS) release. The label draws on Cardhu's own founding story, honouring Helen Cumming, whose illicit 19th-century distilling laid the groundwork for the distillery, as the whisky chosen to represent House Targaryen.

Cardhu Gold Reserve House Targaryen Tasting Notes

Nose: Soft honeyed sweetness, baked apple, and a gentle wisp of toasted oak.
Palate: Rich caramel with baking spice — cinnamon, clove, and allspice — alongside orchard fruit.
Finish: Gentle and malty, with a light biscuit note and a touch of sweetness.

Why Choose Cardhu Gold Reserve House Targaryen?

As a discontinued release from a one-time Diageo collaboration, this bottle sits at the crossover of two collecting interests — Speyside single malt drinkers and Game of Thrones memorabilia collectors. Its light, approachable style makes it accessible to newer whisky drinkers, while the House Targaryen branding and limited release status have kept it in steady demand on the secondary market since the collection ended.

What Makes Cardhu Distillery Unique?

Founded in Speyside in the early 19th century, Cardhu's origins trace back to Helen Cumming, who ran an illicit still on the family farm and reportedly used baking as cover to warn other local distillers of approaching excise officers. Her family later legitimised the operation, and Cardhu went on to become one of the founding malts of the Johnnie Walker blend — a lineage that gives the distillery a distinct place in Speyside's history, and made its "female spirit" origin story a natural fit for House Targaryen.