Ardmore 2008 (Asta Morris)

Jacob Van Artevelde on a whisky label, an anachronism, I’m quite sure he never tried the water of life.

This Ardmore 2008 was part of the latest batch from Asta Morris. Probably a sister cask of the one released in 2018.

Ardmore 10 yo 2008 (54%, Asta Morris 2019, fresh bourbon cask, 272 btl.)

Nose: floral honey with tinned peaches, limes and a good dose of garden bonfires and wet fabric. Some charcoal dust and raw peated malt. Not very wide but nicely elegant in a way, with hints of tiger balm.

Mouth: smoky and fruity. Sweet apples, lemon skins and smoked peaches. Firm oak, with ginger, slightly grassy and resinous notes and a rather medicinal peaty side. Aniseed too.

Finish: medium long, on smoked grass, leafy notes, soot and a wee coffee note.

Good stuff, you know. Not the most complex peated whisky but the balance is spot-on. Still some bottles available, if I’m not mistaken. Around € 70.

Score: 86/100