Ardmore Traditional Cask

Ardmore Traditional Cask
Bottled by: Distillery
ABV: 46%
Other: Non-chill filtered
Region: Highlands (Speyside)
Price: $35
Availability: Specialty stores with a large scotch selection

After reading about Ardmore's charms in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible I was determined to find a bottle. This and the Whisky Galore 15y (separate post) are the most widely available expressions from this distillery. Ardmore's malt is a component of the blended scotch Teacher's Highland Cream and is notable for it's high level of peating for a Highland malt. This bottling is aged first in American oak (ex-bourbon) and then matured for a final period in small 1/4 casks. No age statement.

Tasting Notes
Color
medium amber
Nose
some bread-dough aromas with a sprinkling of peat and oak
Flavor
starts slightly sweet, then a slightly bitter middle followed by peat

Finish

Spicy, a tad warm and lots of peat smoke

Rating

88

Overall impression and notes: Perhaps a bit young - very full flavored, but the finish is evidence that more time is needed for the flavors to achieve more integration and balance. A malt with a lot of character and a unique level of peat for a Speysider. Also a nice job on the packaging.