Of the mainland distilleries that peats their whisky, I think Ardmore is the one that gets the best result. Time to try some more Ardmore.
Ardmore 21yo 1966-1987 46% Cadenhead's for the Mini Bottle Club
Heavy evaporation in this one, so don't take these notes too seriously. The color is golden. It smells of peat, tannins, fresh oak, basil, licorice, coconut, leather. The taste is sweet licorice, coconut, mustard, vanilla, light, suffers from the oxidation.
No points given.
Ardmore 22yo 1977-1999 43% Signatory Vintage cask#1184 btl.417/1850
Some of these old Signatory bottlings has proven to be gold. The color is honey golden. It smells of peat, tobacco, oaky, roasted beef, blood, iodine, raw onions. A lot of fresh vanilla notes in this small peat bomb. It tastes peppery, honeyed and malty, not as peaty as the nose suggested, reminds me of some Cragganmore or even Dailuaine. The finish is a mix of honey, sweet mint, vanilla and horseradish. A good whisky that I think would be a great introduction to this distillery if you haven't tried Ardmore before.
One of those fine whiskies that never disappoints: 7.5
Ardmore 20yo 1992-2012 48.6% www.whiskybase.com Archives cask#4764
Pretty new IB from Belgium. The color is golden. It smells rich, biscuits, pastry, sweet onions, maize flour, creamy cheeses, oysters, honey, lavender. The taste is burnt, peaty, peppery, ginger, lime, dry, white wine, bitter. This is one great Ardmore, and I wish I had more notes, but since its only a 2cl I have not been able to experiment enough with time and water to grasp the whole range of tastes in this one.
More Islay style in this, a bit like Caol Ila in some aspects: 6.5
Ardmore 18yo 1980-1998 51.4% James MacArthur's Old Master's
The second latest distillate in this session, from 1980, so one could say there's not a lot of modern Ardmore that I'm tasting. The color is golden. It smells of sweet tamarind, nutmeg, floral, clover, grilled onions, vanilla, honey, creamy, some peat in the background. A very light and sweet Ardmore it seems. The taste is malty, cinnamon, rich, caramel, dark chocolate, malt syrup, honey, peat, earthy, moss, superb stuff in my opinion. The finish is on leather and tobacco, a real contrast to the sweet and well rounded palate.
Great Ardmore: 8
Ardmore 16yo 1978-1994 56.2% James MacArthur's
A bit younger and stronger than the great 1980 distillate. Which means in this case, more time in the bottle. Golden color. It smells of sweet, peaty spirit, again I'm getting these frail hints of Caoil Ila. Some white wine, white grapes, pears, kiwi, sweet and fruity. The taste is peaty, peppery, more caol-ila resemblance, or even Bowmore 12. Quite in contrast with the fruity nose. After a while it gets more peaty, nuts, chocolate, butter, caramel, sweet and peaty. Once again a very good selected cask(s) by JMcA. Ends on perfect cinnamon, vanilla and peaty notes.
If an Islay-fan, have this instead of the 18yo from same bottler: 7.5
Ardmore 13yo 1994-2008 Single Malts of Scotland 56.8% cask#65
The youngster of the bunch. How will it compare? The color is white wine. It smells of sweet and peppery notes, oaky, quite raw and spirity. The taste is very bittersweet, tannins and peaty notes, vinegar, raw onion, I must admit this isn't a very good whisky, or even close to that. Perhaps some water will help. With water it turns sweeter, some molasses spirit, grapefruit, peat and wool. Grassy and peaty, a bit like some Bladnochs I've tried, but its still an Ardmore way under par.
This tastings big disappointment: 4
Next tasting: Laphroaig Distillery
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