Ardmore 2009 Valinch & Mallet The Peat(y)ful Pack Madness 12 yo

 

 

 

52,2°

Distillery : The Ardmore -Speyside

Ex-Bourbon Cask and Ex-Faraon Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Valnch & Mallet Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

The Peat(y)ful Pack Madness range would belong to another, larger range within Valinch & Mallet, called The Spirit of Art, the principle  of which is to illustrate a bottle of whisky with a contemporary work of art. Here the bottles are adorned with the delirious and provocative images of Laura Paperina, an internationally renowned artist. But what interests us the most is inside the bottle, it is some Ardmore distilled in 2009 and aged for 8 and a half years in a Bourbon cask before being transferred for the next three and a half years in an Oloroso Sherry cask from the famous Faraon brand. The result was distributed among 338 different bottles before going on sale in early January 2022.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very successful nose, both creamy and filled with dried fruits, grapes, apricots, dates, figs. Some red fruits are present too, but discreet, raspberries, blackberries. Stretched leather. Well integrated smoke into the whole, light. Vanilla eclair, genoise. On the palate, it's still sweet and creamy, but also quite spicy, turmeric, cumin, cloves, black pepper. Heather, black earth, and a nice rather long finish to complete it all, charcoal, forestry, on chestnuts and pine cones. Again some red fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants, stick of liquorice in retro-olfaction.

 

In Short, 

I was wondering why only a sherry cask finish, why not full maturation ? But I must admit that it is very well done. My small reservation is that Ardmore peat is still very light, you can barely feel it. So, does it have its place in a range dedicated to it ? The question arises, frankly. The distilleries which combine peat and Sherry very effectively are known, Bowmore, Ardbeg and others, but perhaps these gentlemen from Valinch & Mallet wanted peat from the Highlands? Apart from that, the price is still high, and besides, this is perhaps the reason why this bottling is still available on quite a few sites. Not quite Sherry, not quite peaty, not quite Ardmore either, as the distillate is a bit hidden, and quite expensive though, I'm not sure I would advise buying.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           BSI - Jelly Belly