That Boutique-y Whisky Company recently presented this smoky Ardmore 14 Year Old. Not much more to say…
Ardmore 14 yo
(49,5%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company 2018, Batch #5, 582 btl.)
Ardmore 14 yoNose: quite gristy, mildly smoky, showing hints of wet gravel. Hints of tequila and a green fruitiness. A little wax. Walnuts and hints of herbs. Not the slightly tropical fruit notes that we like in 1990s Ardmore, this is more mineral and earthy.
Mouth: quite oily, close to the raw materials again. Sweet peat, biscuity notes, bread, lemons and nice hints of peaches. Spicy notes, think chilli and a hint of ginger. Again a faint herbal edge. Not very complex but the balance of sweetness, minerals and smoke is spot-on.
Finish: medium, with ashes and some fruit poking through.
This is less seductive than most of the 1990s distillates but it’s certainly balanced, entertaining and highly drinkable. Available from Master of Malt.
Score: 85/100