AN ARDMORE OF RUSTIC CUISINE – Score: 8/10
It’s quite incomprehensible, but there are distilleries where it’s better to consume their whiskies from independent bottlers rather than the official bottlings.
Clearly, Ardmore falls into this category. So far, no official production has pleased my palate. However, I regularly discover gems from independent bottlers.
This is the case with this version bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, delivering a small pearl with this 2007 Ardmore, aged fourteen years, having spent time in a virgin American oak cask and then in a Pedro Ximenez cask, giving it an exceptional smoothness on the palate.
The texture is oily, comparable to paraffin oil, and takes us to notes of herbed ham and smoked meat. Speaking of smoke, it is simply sublime. Powerful enough to be noticeable without overwhelming the palate and harmoniously blending with the other flavors.
A very pleasant whisky for enthusiasts of the genre.
