A HOMEOPATHIC WHISKY – Score: 7/10
Strangely enough, some distilleries are more enjoyable through independent bottlings than in their official releases.
Caol Ila, Glen Moray, and Ardmore are notable examples—far more intriguing when their casks are handpicked by independent bottlers.
Is this due to a commercial strategy favoring more consensual flavors, or are independent bottlers simply more discerning in their selections than the official distilleries? The question remains open.
Tonight, we find ourselves tasting a whisky from the well-known bottler Signatory Vintage: an Ardmore 2009, aged for thirteen years in a second-fill bourbon cask sourced from Islay (likely Laphroaig).
Needless to say, peat takes center stage on the palate, yet it allows a floral bouquet to shine through. This whisky is indeed “homeopathic,” as medicinal flowers are remarkably present—mint, chamomile, verbena. The experience continues with honey and yellow lemon, all wrapped in a smooth, paraffin-like texture.
A whisky that could almost be prescribed by prescription.
