Many of the new Single Malts of Scotland releases are gone already, but some really good ones are still around. Let’s have a look at this ‘Aird Mhor’ (Ardmore) 1998.
Aird Mhor 20 yo 1998 (51,6%, Single Malts of Scotland 2019, hogshead #750790, 280 btl.)
Aird Mhor 20 yo 1998 (51,6%, Single Malts of Scotland 2019, hogshead #750790, 280 btl.)Nose: discreet peat smoke, as an ever so gentle backdrop for sweet pears and citrus, fresh mentholated notes and pine wood. Heather honey, apple peels. Rather classic, without any lactic notes, good.
Mouth: punchier now, but still balanced as a gentleman. An oily texture, with sweet earthy peat, hints of peaches and hay. Cider apples, lime, menthol again, slight acrid notes. Nutty notes. Building up grassy touches towards the end.
Finish: long, with the green / grassy notes, vague citrus fruits and some oak spice.
We’ve had more quirky Ardmore 1998 but this is fairly classic and elegant. A crescendo of peat alongside apples and oily notes. Simply very good and still available from The Whisky Exchange.
Score: 88/100