Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Immediately wood smoke on the nose with a vanilla sweetness behind. In addition, discreet fruit notes of apricot with a touch of citrus as well as fine toffee with honey. In the background some peat notes with ash. The high alcohol content is noticeable but not pungent at all.
Palate: Strong start on the palate, yet sweet at first with lots of vanilla. Then spicy and warming notes of ginger, white pepper as well as a slight alcoholic spiciness, accompanied by discreet smoke, some ash and a subtle tobacco note in the background.
Finish: The finish is long lasting with sweet notes of honey, vanilla and sultanas. Accompanied by caramel and slightly dry cocoa, with ash tones towards the end.
With water: After adding water a little fresher on the nose with more citrus, but also more smoke. The vanilla sweetness and ginger spiciness remain. Still strong on the palate, but the sweetness is pushed into the background. More smoke, with grilled apricots, a hint of sultanas and a subtle tobacco note. The finish is still long with honey, slightly bitter espresso notes as well as dry ash towards the end.

Comments: A powerful and intense Ardmore with lots of vanilla, fruit and sweet-looking smoke. The influence of the sherry cask is subtle and leaves room for yellow fruity notes and sweet honey. The alcohol is already very well integrated. All in all, a delicious dram that can also tolerate a few drops of water, but this is not absolutely necessary.

 

I thank whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the image!

Colour: White wine.
Nose: First wood smoke with roasted peanuts and earthy notes. Then honey and fruit aromas are added, grilled pineapple, apricot and vanilla. This is accompanied by spicy oak and a touch of pepper.
Palate: Sweet on the palate with vanilla cream and honey. Then immediately strongly warming, spicy and dry, even slightly astringent, with oak, chilli and ginger. As soon as this warmth fades, apricot and pineapple become noticeable, along with fine wood smoke and a touch of smoked bacon.
Finish: The finish is long lasting and becomes increasingly dry with wood smoke, spicy oak, some ash and allspice.
With water: After the addition of water, fresher on the nose with wood smoke, fruit notes and honey. In addition, proper spices and even slightly maritime tones are noticeable. Still sweet and clearly fruity on the palate with honey, apricot and pineapple. Then slightly warming and subtly spicy with pepper and oak. Remains creamy with a touch of smoked meat. The finish remains long, warming and creamy with fruit compote and subtle oak spice.

Comments: A powerful, full-bodied and pleasantly smoky Highlander. This Ardmore shows a nice spectrum of fruity, sweet and smoky aromas, which offer a nice balance and a wonderful mouthfeel on the palate. Something for the cold winter evenings.

 

I thank The Whisky Cellar for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: White wine.
Nose: Smoldering smoke on the nose accompanied by citrus fruits, vanilla cream and a note of heather. A little white pepper is added to this.
Palate: Fruity on the palate with citrus notes, accompanied by smoke and strongly warming spices. Peppery with wood ash. Behind this, salty caramel lingers towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long lasting, with some ash and a sticky fruit. Gets gradually drier with cold smoke.
With water: After adding a few drops of water less smoke on the nose, with caramel, vanilla cream and citrus fruits, accompanied by some ash. Sweet, fruity and less warming on the palate. Just a touch of pepper and smoke, accompanied by fruit sweetness, caramel and grapefruit. The finish is medium long, sticky fruity, with caramel and some ash.
Comments: An exciting Ardmore with a nice balance of sweetness and smoky aromas. By adding water, the peppery spices take a backseat in favour of more sweetness and caramel notes. Very nice!

 

I thank whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the image!

Colour: Straw.
Nose: The nose starts off with delicate bonfire smoke. Behind that sweet vanilla and malted barley notes arrive, accompanied by cereals and a touch of lemon fruit. Spicy hints of white pepper in the background. The alcohol is already well integrated and not at all pungent.
Palate: Quite spicy on the palate at first with oak, black pepper and nutmeg. Very warming indeed, certainly owing to the high alcohol content. Then a delicate sweetness of vanilla and caramel arrives, mixed with honey and stewed yellow fruit. This is all nicely wrapped in gentle wood smoke. Very mouth-filling and salivation stimulating!
Finish: The finish is long, warm and rather spicy with pepper and dry oak. Discreet sweetness of vanilla and honey on the tail with a whiff of wood smoke.
With water: There's less smoke coming through when a splash of water is added. The sweetness is a bit tamed as well, whereas more fruit - apricots in particular, as well as spiced oak and pepper arrive on the nose. Significantly tamed warmth on the palate with a delicate mix of oak spice, pepper, and sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. A touch of honey lingers with gentle wood smoke towards the finish. The finish is medium-long and significantly dry with prickling oak and tender honey on the tail.
Comments: A real buster from the Highlands! This is a robust, potent, young but nicely drinkable single malt. The high alcohol content is well integrated leading to a rich and pleasantly warming mouthfeel. The discreet fruitiness and lovely vanilla sweetness is already well balanced with the warming spiciness coming from the American oak. Not necessarily water needed. A well-knitted character - I am quite impressed. Well done folks!

 

I thank The Barreliers for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Lots of cereal notes with a massive load of alcohol which, surprisingly, isn't pungent at all. Behind that there's a touch of apricots and peaches with a lovely touch of peat in the back.
Palate: Deliciously sweet on the palate with barley sugar and cereal notes. Then the alcohol becomes very present. Once this intensely warmth fades, lovely fruity hints of apricots and peaches emerge, lingering with tender peat and spiced oak towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long, sweet with barley sugar and creamy with hints of vanilla and fruit. Becomes slightly dry towards the end with a whiff of peaty notes.
With water: There's more malty flavours coming through by adding some drops of water. The alcoholic bite is significantly tamed while more vanilla emerges. Lovely sweet and fruity on the palate with more apricots and peaches, followed by vanilla and a pleasant warmth caused by the alcohol. Cereal notes and hints of cloves and peat towards the finish. The finish is medium long, subtle sweet and creamy with a significantly dry end.
Comments: This is a lively, very young but already drinkable and quite delicate Highland single malt. The high alcohol content is already good integrated leading to a pleasant warming mouthfeel. This young whisky shows a lovely filigree fruitiness of peaches and apricots which is balanced with the subtle but pleasantly noticeable Ardmore peatiness. I enjoyed it very much.

 

I thank Caminneci - Wine & Spirit Partner for sample and photograph!