More peat with 4 Ardmores

I do not know why, but there seem to be quite low streength in all of these CS'es, perhaps there's a lot of leaking casks at Ardmore... A peaty highlander that's never gotten the attention it deserves in my opinion.






Ardmore 18yo 1992-2010 44.1% Creative Whisky Company cask#5016

Light golden color. It smells peaty, acidic, chlorine, coastal, come fish stock and seaweed, citrus, orange zest. The taste is thick, sweet, peppery, peaty, honey, vanilla, orange juice, cream liqueur. It gets a bit too sweet and light for my liking, but overall its a very pleasant small scale peat bomb. But 44.1% after just 18 years in cask?

Great initiation Ardmore if you want to try this distillery: 6


Ardmore 18yo 1992-2010 49.9% The Whisky Agency

From an ex-bourbon barrel, a bit higher strength, I kinda like my whiskies at 55+%, but there can be greatness below 50%abv too. Light golden color. It smells peatier, freshly baked bread, pork belly, bacon, fat, mint, creamy, all over just a bit less fruity and more meaty than the prior 1992. The taste is spicy, orange liqueur, chili, bell peppers, green peppercorns, pickles, apple juice, mangos, sweet, pears, not as much peat on the palate this time.

Another good Ardmore, less peat, but more flavor: 6


Ardmore 20yo 1992-2012 49.9% The Whiskyman "Peat Fighting Man"

Same vintage, same strength, but two more years on wood. You can have it while listening to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUO8ScYVeDo I have not had many whiskies by Whisky Man, but I like the fact that he incorporates a bit of rock'n'roll to every bottling. Light golden color again. It smells peaty, coastal, a bit like Caol Ila, how strange.. None of those sweet'n'fruity highland notes in this one. The taste is sweet, big, kiwi, pickles, sweet and sour, chili, oranges, dates, figs, big stuff, peaty.

A fruity peatbomb: 6.5


Ardmore 12yo 1999-2011 53.5% Dun Bheagan cask#91771

Finished in Chateau Palmer Wine casks. I've never tried the wine. This one got some bad bad review from the seller, a certain mr. Richard Joynson, stating a produce he's about to sell as almost a "bad whisky". Needless to say, I jumped on that freight train and purchased a bottle. Nice orange hue. It smells red wine, more than anything else. Some peat, some spirity notes, cointreau, smoked salmon, salty, rustic, almonds, its really a good one in my opinion. The taste is all on cinnamon, oranges, honey, bread, yeast, doughy, dark grapes, fish stock, blue cheese, coriander, garlic, this is actually a very good whisky, me thinks.

Wine finish? Yes, please!: 7.5



Next tasting: Bruichladdich Distillery