Ardmore 2008 Distillery Labels 15 yo

 

 

 

46° 

The Ardmore - Highlands

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Part of the Distillery Labels range, which brings together Gordon & MacPhail's reduced but vintage bottlings, this Ardmore is announced as being 15 years old, although this is not written on the bottle. It is a blend of several Bourbon casks, and the peat level is the usual one for Ardmore. 

 

Let's Taste It :  

On the nose, light peat, slightly dusty, slightly stony, ointment, dried and earthy cereals, hints of vegetation and caramel, mirabelle and greengage plums, green apples. A zest of lemon. Fragrances of iodine, seaweed, ash. On the palate, it is pastry-like, egg custard, vanilla cream, nougatine, fresh walnuts, toasted wheat, various spices, cinnamon, cloves, cayenne pepper. Fairly long, powerful finish, traces of tar, gently charred wood, almonds and cashews. Dry biscuits, mustard seeds.

 

In Short, 

A remarkable Ardmore, a bit austere, with a slightly more pronounced peatiness than usual. It's pleasant to drink and full of character, complex but not overly so, with measured strength. It's the kind of thing that makes you knock back glass after glass without thinking. The price is really good, it's worth spending some time on. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Dead Astropilots - You Should Know

Ardmore 2009 Artist #15 The Dark Side of the Moon 15 yo

 

 

 

57°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Once again selected from casks stored in Signatory Vintage's warehouses, this 15-year-old Ardmore was finished in a first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, yielding 337 bottles. The artwork chosen to adorn the label is entitled Identity Demands, by Sthenjwa Luthuli.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A beautiful and thick sherry, enhanced by a slightly charred, dry and earthy peat. Red fruit coulis, blackberries, blueberries, pie crust with a pinch of sea salt, elegant smoke and toasted cereals, hot bacon and caramel, apricots and redcurrants. On the palate, creamy honey, a few drops of oil, fermented fruit, rare beef steak slightly charred in places, ginger, dried banana, various spices, cloves, black pepper. Long and explosive finish, liquorice, still-smoking cigar ash, coffee and dark chocolate, a few exotic fruits rubbed on varnished wood, semi-salted butter, malted barley.

 

In Short, 

This is a very well-made sherry, thoroughly successful, with a touch of originality. There are also coastal notes and some remnants of the distillery's profile, but the balance is still very good. The price is a little high, but fans of sherry and the distillery will find it well worth it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lor3l3i - Ghost

Whisky Sponge 2000 Equilibrium III 22 yo

 

 

 

53°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Speyside

1st Fill and Refill Sherry Hogsheads, 2d Fill Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Medium Peated

 

 

 

This one is the third and final model in the Equilibrium series. The first two, released in 2021 and 2022, were Edradour. The third is an Ardmore. Each time, the aim is to find the perfect balance between Sherry and peat. This is the oldest, but also apparently the least peaty. As with the others, the name of the distillery is not given on the label, but it's no mystery that it's Ardmore, presented as a Highland distillery, when in fact it's in Speyside. This is a blend of two Hogsheads, one Refill from 1997, the other 1st Fill Sherry from 2000, both of which were put together in a 2d Fill Sherry for two years, before being released into the wild, after a slight reduction in alcohol content. It seems that the liquid has spent some time out of the cask, as logically it should be 23 years old, between 2000, the date of the last distillation, and 2024, the date of bottling.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Deep and dark sherry, with damp wood, fermented fruits, prunes, blueberries, candied damsons, amarena cherries. A few redcurrants. Cigar ash still warm, shovelfuls of soot, recently extinguished campfire. Earthy and chocolatey undertones. A touch of coffee. It's velvety on the palate, brown tobacco, sultanas, dates, soft caramel. Hazelnuts. It's very spicy, with pepper, cumin and cloves. The finish is fairly long, red fruits, woody, roots, liquorice, with pastry and forest notes.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry is intense, the peat a little less so, you can hardly feel it. So the balance isn't perfect for my taste, but it's still a very fine bottling, with great depth and complexity. The price is a little high, but those who can afford it won't regret it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Mango in Euphoria - Lovestruck

Ardmore 2012 Cadenhead's Original Collection 11 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

Ruby Port Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

They're doing some experiments at Cadenhead, with Ardmore casks. Last year, I tasted something partially aged in Marsala casks, but they've done another one finished in Pinot Noir wine casks. And this time, they're not shy about it, it's aged entirely in Port casks. And not just any Port, but the sweetest, Ruby Port. We don't know how many bottles went on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light damsons, sweet and syrupy blueberries, crushed red fruits, fairly pronounced vinous notes, but without any bitterness. Muscat grapes, dragon fruit. But behind it there is a lovely varnished woodiness, which adds solidity. On the palate, it's well done, you can recognise the distillery's profile, light and creamy peat with a hint of salt and something dusty, but the Port influence is still important, candied red fruits, blackcurrants, blackberries, redcurrants, well-controlled spices, nutmeg, black pepper. Long and relatively powerful finish, bark, humus, dark berries, almost charcoal. Liquorice, dark chocolate.

 

In Short, 

I think I particularly like Port cask ageing, especially Ruby Port. This one is also very good, as it doesn't completely hide the distillery's profile. As for the price, it's really worth it. I'm seriously considering of buying it.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Granvil Poynter - Cigarettes and Gin

Ardmore 2012 100 Proof Edition #21 12 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

2d Fill Bourbon Barrels From Laphroaig Distillery

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

The second Ardmore in the 100 Proof range has been aged in 2nd fill Bourbon Barrels, the first fill having been made with juice from the Laphroaig distillery. As a result, the Laphroaigish peat permeated the Barrels, and the whisky inside. And all this during 12 years. The distillery often reproduces this experiment, with varying degrees of success. The number of bottles filled is not specified.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fine, airy peat with a pinch of iodine. Lemon and other citrus fruits, upside-down ashtray, a dash of vanilla. Crushed almonds, custard, light caramel. A touch of ether. After a while, there's a nice balance, it's fresh and spring-like, gently vegetal. On the palate, creamy vanilla and young wood, you no longer feel the peat. White fruit, mirabelle plums, juicy apples. Very light spices. A hint of bitterness. Quite long and not too powerful finish, cola, puffed rice chocolate, varnish. Raw chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

I think I preferred the previous Ardmore in the range, because it was enhanced by Sherry casks, but here the influence of Laphroaigish peat takes away some of its complexity. Anyway, there's not much difference, and both are very good. As always, the price is very attractive. It's time to give in to your desires.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Joy Formidable - Whirring

Ardmore 2010 100 Proof Edition #4 13 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

I'm extending my exploration of the 100 Proof range with this Ardmore, distilled in 2010 and bottled 13 years later. It was released in January 2024, and a batch of 2,804 bottles invaded the spirits shops.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light and warm peat, terracotta, walnuts and greengages, an ounce of iodine. Sanded and slightly waxed wood. The weather is windy, almost humid. Reeds, elderberries, gooseberries. Quite vegetal. Dates and applesauce. It's light on the palate, green tea, watercress soup, intense but friendly spices, not too violent, pepper, basil, cloves. Olive oil. The finish is long, explosive without being overpowering, well controlled. Chocolate chips, coffee beans, exotic wood, crumbly bark, a touch of charcoal and honey. Melting caramel.

 

In Short,

This is a fine Ardmore, and the finish in particular is a success. I found the nose a tad vegetal, without this being disturbing, on the contrary. The Sherry is not overpowering, leaving the distillate to its own devices. It's all very pleasant, and given the very attractive price, it's well worth buying. But it's almost sold out.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Occasional Dreams  Fever Dream

The Ardmore 12 yo Port Wood Finish

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

American White Oak Bourbon Barrels and European Port Pipes Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Malt 

Launched in 2015

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This one is the only aged version in the distillery's Core Range. First released in 2015, it has now become its most important reference. It is not chill-filtered, but it is coloured and reduced to 46°.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Red fruits with a hint of smoke, raspberry jam, the smoothness of Port. A touch of liquorice and chocolate, perhaps a bit of tobacco. Damsons, gooseberries, muscat grapes, a pinch of cinnamon. After a while, the fruit becomes deeper, almost complex. Notes of honey and mirabelle plums. On the palate, there's a lovely suave woodiness, blueberries and strawberries, olive oil, it's liquorous, with traces of undergrowth and black berries. Then the spices rise, quite strong, cumin, pepper and cloves. Brown tobacco. Long finish, the caramel comes through, fudge, liquorice stick, cola, bark, black tea. Coal and chocolate.

 

In Short, 

I have to say that it's much better than I expected. The Port is very well brought out and deep, complex and bewitching. The downside is that it lacks the typical profile of this distillery, but you can't have everything. As for the price, it's more than fair, in my opinion you can go for it without hesitation.

Score : 87 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Kiki Rockwell - Syrena

Ardmore 12 yo Macbeth A Whisky Collection The Household Series Seyton

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

Ex-Laphroaig American and European Oak Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limired Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

This is the third bottling I've tasted from this crazy project: turning the famous Scottish play into a gallery of bottles featuring each character. So far, nine characters have been illustrated. This bottle represents Seyton, Macbeth's household, who tells him that his wife has died in Act V. This is a particularly peaty Ardmore, aged in old Laphroaig casks. 3200 bottles were produced. The label was designed by Sir Quentin Blake.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, astringent peat and limestone, burnt plastic, pine needles, braised caramel. Slight iodine freshness, ocean air, a pinch of icing sugar. A medicinal touch, some white fruits, a mint leaf. The palate seemed to me to be very fruity, with mirabelle plums, greengages, bananas, pineapple and papaya. Still, there was a pinch of salt and a good layer of peat in the background. Not disturbing spices, nutmeg and cumin. Long, woody finish, with coriander and cloves mingling with dark chocolate and coffee. Mineral and coniferous notes.

 

In Short, 

I found it very successful, the influence of the Laphroaig casks gives punch to this Ardmore whose typical markers are recognisable. It is iodised, foresty (coniferous forest) and peaty, but also fruity. And it's all beautifully balanced. The price seems almost acceptable, but I'd have to taste it again before deciding to buy it.

Score : 89    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           No Name Faces - Silence

Ardmore 2011 WLP23 Whisky Live Paris 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

Oloroso Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

And here's the cask specially selected for the Whisky Live Paris event. Bottled on the eve of France's National Day, it yielded 867 bottles. Signatory Vintage supplied the cask, as it does every year. I don't know how long they've been producing a bottle especially for Whisky Live, but I do know that last year, in 2022, it was a Bunnahabhain, and in 2021, it was a Caol Ila. Like the others, this one is reduced to 46°, but it is a little older, and it doesn't say on the bottle whether it's non-chill filtered. Still, it would be surprising if it were.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Buttery bread, beautiful peat, intense and smoky, but not overpowering either, evanescent vanilla and white plum, touches of ethereal iodine that give a lovely fullness. Cereals, with cracked wheat and cut hay, but it's also very slightly dirty, with motor oil and gas oil. On the palate, it's like a sweet, with vanilla and lemon, honeyed, unctuous with a hint of acidity. Soft toffee, gingerbread, light spices. The finish is fairly long but not very strong, with cloves, chestnuts and Indian spices. Malty notes.

 

In Short, 

The Ardmore distillery was one of the highlights of this Whisky Live. Several very interesting Ardmores were offered for tasting, of which this is one of the least remarkable. But that's no big deal, the special bottlings for Whisky Live are mostly something commemorative, it's never a great whisky. Incidentally, I found this one better than its predecessors, older and more nuanced thanks to the Oloroso Sherry Butt. On the other hand, the price is high, but it will always look good on the shelf.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Wildmen Bluesband - It's Freezing in My Heart

Ardmore 2000 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 22 yo

 

 

 

55,3°

Distillery : The Armore - Highlands

Refill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Still in the very prestigious Connoisseurs Choice range, which is around since 1968, this Ardmore bathed during 22 years in a Refill Sherry Hogshead, before being transformed in a limited edition of 211 bottles. It is presented as peaty, but after all these years of maturation, the peat is barely perceptible.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The age is obvious on the nose, with a beautiful waxy patina, vanilla cream, woody notes bordering on almond, ripe white fruits, plums, bananas, mirabelles, and a touch of lightly peaty, salty iodine that adds body. Crunchy hazelnuts. On the palate, the fruits continue their jig, with a hint of citrus and milk chocolate, dates, measured spices, cloves and nutmeg, a dash of vanilla and carrot. The finish is long, powerful but very controlled, full of tobacco, humus, bark and vegetal moss. Nuts.

 

In Short, 

A typical Ardmore, exactly as it should be, the Sherry is not very pronounced, I like the note of iodised salt, the hazelnuts and almonds, and the whole is beautifully balanced and subtle. The price is a bit high, but it won't put off enthusiasts. I wouldn't be ashamed to buy it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Blonde Redhead - Sit Down for Dinner

Ardmore 2013 Hidden Spirits 10th Anniversary 9 yo

 

 

 

53,2°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

Second tasted by myself among the three special bottlings launched to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the trading company founded by Andrea Ferrari in 2013, this Ardmore was aged in a single Refill Hogshead, but it is announced as particularily peated, for an Ardmore. The peat content is not specified, but I would say around 30 ppm, maybe a bit less. 266 bottles were put on sale. 

Let's Taste It : 

It's more peaty, with a mineral, rocky peat, silica, slate and coarse sea salt. The fruits are simpler, white plums, vanilla, lemon zest, all with a certain astringency. Chalk, iodine. Lighter on the palate, vanilla cream, peach, I can no longer smell the peat. Fairly broad spices, nutmeg, curry. Nice finish, chiselled, relatively powerful and long, lemony, fresh citrus, and perhaps even some exotic fruits. Cereals, chestnuts, hazelnuts. A certain woodiness.

In Short, 

It's very interesting and pleasant, but not entirely coherent. The nose is peaty, but not at all on the palate. The fruit, on the other hand, is everywhere. It's a bit young, Ardmore probably needs more time to mature. Anyway, this is a nice bottling full of character, but the price is a bit high.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl

Ardmore 2002 Hidden Spirits The Poker Face Collection 21 yo

 

 

 

53,3°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Among other goodies, Hidden Spirits launched this range two years ago, The Poker Face Collection, which brings together 4 different bottlings, all illustrated with the same concept by Severino Del Bono, a world-famous artist, or so I'm told. This Ardmore is the 4th and final expression in the series, aged for precisely 21 years in a 1st Fill Bourbon single cask, and produced in an edition of 217 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Ashy peat, admittedly light but intense. Exotic fruits, guava and mango, but in the background. Beautiful minerality, graphite, pencil lead, iron filings. Wax and earthy vanilla. All sprinkled with lemon. The palate, on the other hand, is very fruity, with white plums, banana, custard. The spices are not overpowering. A peaty aftertaste of black ash and soot. The finish is long, sparkling, lemon biscuit, tarte tatin, toasted almonds, frangipane, apple crumble, a pinch of cinnamon.

 

In Short, 

Interesting, and really surprising. The peat is very intense for an Ardmore, but it doesn't hide the fruit, especially on the finish. This is a superb bottling, both subtle and extreme, unfortunately the price is high but it is still possible to find it on promotion on certain websites.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Balthazar - Fever

Ardmore 25 yo The Single Malts of Scotland A Marriage of Casks

 

 

 

48,6°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

Distributed as part of the A Marriage of Casks sub-range, this 25-year-old Ardmore is described as "Heavily Peated". In fact, the peat content is certainly less than 20 ppm, which is not bad for the distillery at this age. The nature of the casks used is not mentioned. Nor do we know how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very complex, with light peat, but a beautiful, ethereal, iodised smoke, with a hint of charcoal. It's very well balanced, with creamy, almost candied fruits, marzipan, forest honey and walnuts. On the palate, quinces, apricots, cooked apples, it's almost like compote, with a generous pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. A touch of pepper too. Very well done finish, long, rocky, hazelnuts, the peat returning, a bit ashy, an ounce of soot and earth, some white fruits, discreet vanilla, a certain minerality. Breadcrumbs.

 

In Short, 

This Ardmore is a truly exceptional success, very impressive. The nose is superb, the finish fantastic, but on the palate I found it more or less easy, a little too much what was expected. But I'm quibbling and, overall, this is an excellent whisky. Lovers of peaty Ardmore will be in a rush, and rightly so.

Score : 90 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Iguana Death Cult - Artificial Afterlife

Ardmore 2011 Cadenhead Original Collection 11 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

70% Marsala and 30% Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

There are two 11-year-old Ardmore bottled by Cadenhead in 2022. The first is finished in Pinot noir Casks, and the second, which is the subject of this post, is matured in Marsala and Bourbon Casks. The number of bottles filled is unknown. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's waxy, with a slight pastry peatiness, like a mille-feuilles, vanilla custard, all set with an evanescent iodine, with a dash of salt. Beeswax, raw honey, meringued lemon. The peat is only there to give a little thickness. Leafy palate, where the vanilla stands out, with some exotic fruits, papaya, guava, mellow lemon, almost candied. Spices in the background. It's syrupy, liquorish. The finish is fairly long, satisfying without being exceptional, lemony, dry earth, sand, with a pinch of salt.

 

In Short, 

It's quite well done, without being revolutionary, but it gives a nice dimension to Ardmore's profile, sweeter, pastry-like, reminiscent of limoncello. At the same time, the distillery's hallmarks are not forgotten. The price is manageable, so it's worth considering a purchase.

Score : 87 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Temptations - Papa Was a Rolling Stone

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

 

 

 

52,2°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

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

Ardmore 2009 Signatory Vintage Selected by Les Grands Alambics 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardmore - Highlands 

Ex-Islay Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 14 ppm

 

 

 

Selected by Les Grands Alambics from the casks kept by Signatory Vintage, this Ardmore bottling aged in an Islay cask was released in a limited edition of only 150 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fine granitic peat, slightly dusty. Vanilla pastry cream. Wisps of smoke. Lemony genoise. Gradually, the peat and smoke become thicker, without ceasing to be creamy. A dollop of chantilly. Gravel. Soft, velvety palate, both light and intense, very light spices, just a fizz, green apple, it's suave. Olive oil. Quite a long finish, on conifers, pine cones, fir needles, eucalyptus. It's woody, liquorice, cola, hazelnut. A hint of bitterness. Rhubarb.

 

In Short, 

A very fine bottling, whose character is enhanced by ageing in an Islay cask. Unfortunately, it is now sold out, which is a shame, as the price was quite attractive.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Kansas - Dust in the Wind

Ardmore 1997 Old Particular 21 yo

 

 

 

51,5°

Distillery : Ardmore - Highlands

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co.

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

The Old Particular range offers only vintage Single Casks, reduced to either 48.4° or 51.5°, or cask strength. Only 295 bottles of this limited edition have been released.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A fresh, invigorating, iodised, maritime nose. The beach at low tide. A few pebbles. Citrus fruits, lemon, grapefruit. Moss, a hint of peat. A foresty character settles in. Holly, undergrowth, heather. On the palate, coarse salt, white fruits, juicy apple, grapes, vanilla and orange peel. Mirabelle plum. Not very disturbing spices. Unfortunately, the finish is not up to scratch, too short I think. There's still a touch of charcoal and a pinch of earth. It is reasonably woody.

 

In Short, 

I would have really liked it if the finish had been as remarkable as the nose and the palate. It's a shame, but there are some very satisfying elements in this bottling.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                     Baxter Dury - Cocaine Man

Peated Cask Matured Blended Malt Scotch Whisky The Classic Range

 

 

 

44,2°

Distillery :  The Ardmore, Laphroaig - Highlands, Islay

Small Batch Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Core Range 

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

The Classic Range, which includes whiskies from Speyside, Islay and Ireland, also includes a whisky aged in peated casks, which are believed to be Laphroaig casks. The whisky aged in these casks, impregnated with a low phenol content, is thought to be partly Ardmore.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Good damp peat with a medicinal touch, the juice is strongly impregnated by the casks, which is astonishing. Limestone rock, granite, light fruits and sea breeze. Vanilla and honey on the palate, with a light fruitiness and creaminess. Unripe melon, cherry tomatoes, cereals, millet, barley, quinoa. Some floral fragrances. Fairly long finish on charcoal and honey. Puffed rice. Gravel, sand, wheat. A sunny day on a deserted Scottish beach.

 

In Short, 

I liked the contrast between the strength of the peated casks and the lightness of the aromas. That said, I wonder if I've exaggerated the score, given what I've read here and there about this bottling. In any case, it seemed to work for me.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                                     Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends