The 2007 release of this 'Traditional Cask' was the first official single malt from the Ardmore distillery, this is a young whisky, but it was aged in quarter casks, which proffers a speedy maturation thus discounting its youth.
Full of caramel. Toasted oak is evident and rich and just the faintest peat has muscled its way through.
Lots of barley and cereal notes, oodles of rich bourbon, smoke and peat still present. Charming interplay through the caramel sweetness and the vanilla spiced oak.
Has a sharp edge, more caramel and sugary barley notes and a lanolin smoothness and more tapering smoke.
Was recently given this bottle as a gift, and had no idea what to expect. Took it along to a whisky tasting evening with friends. When we came to this one which none of us had tasted before, the conversation stopped and we were all quite impressed. I would describe it as full, rich, and complex with a different kind of peaty taste than the Islay whiskys.
Utterly vile. Avoid
A very unmistakable single malt, with full peaty flavour. Absolutely love to drink it. Very easy to sip. Lovely! U Bartsch, North Berwick, Scotland
Very smokey/peaty which tends to dominate palate with long but subtle smokey ness. Good if you like your peat, I brought it to try however seems I prefer the sweeter whiskies!
For the same price, the HP, but priced $15 lower in my area, buy the Ard and put the difference to a bottle of Lag 12, C.Ila, or Bal. 12/15. For a whisky drinker of modest means, a bottle of this, Glenmorangie 10, OPulteney 12, and a 10-12yr Islay would be a tasty shelf. A Rating within class, not absolute.
