Ardmore 1992 / 19 Year Old / Single Malts of Scotland

Nose
Clean with a light muskiness, almond, a hint of cow barn (nice!) and subtle woodsmoke. With water it shows good weight along with hot oatmeal, brick dust and a whiff of fresh asparagus.

Palate
Thick and unctuous - think caramelised apple with good acidity building up.

Finish
Light and tight.

Comments
Ardmore shows its gentle side. When will people discover this distillery?

Nose
Fragrant. Floral and malty. Freesia. Honeysuckle. Barely sugar. Opens on citrus notes. Lemon posset. Refined and complex. Hint of marshmallow

Palate
Crisp like raw silk. Not as smooth as the nose would have let expected. A fizzy spicy feel on the tongue. But the same delicacy. Light fudge at midpalate.

Finish
Smooth, gently spicy with a fresh note of icy mint.

Comments
An enticing whispering whisky

Colour: white wine.

Nose (neat): Exactly Ardmore, with this very precise moment where the fruitiness and the smokiness find perfect balance. I don’t know if it’s rather smoked peaches and cranberries or the other way ’round, but what’s sure is that it works. Also melons, hay, garden bonfire, a little coal, tangerines… In short, very Ardmore. With water: the barley comes out more. Fresh muesli. 

Mouth: plain and pure estery peat. I mean, smoked sweets and drops (pineapples, oranges, strawberries, apricot, melon and god knows what else). Then more roots and pepper, both white and black, but this very peaty fruitiness will just remain there. Spectacular in its own kind. With water: an even bigger fruitiness. Lovable and much quaffable.

Finish: medium long, tart, light, fruity, very clean.

Comments: I love these Ardmores. Perfect if you like peat but do not always want to feel like you’ve put your head into a stovepipe. Ahem. SGP:546 - 90 points.

Nose: fairly malty and neutral at first, not much smoke. Light buttery notes. Some vanilla and soft fruits (peach, papaya). All this mixed with an interesting leafy / mossy character and the lovely sooty, diesel-like aromas that we’ve found in Ardmore before.

Mouth: oily mouthfeel, sooty at first. Then a terrific burst of tropical fruits. Light pepper. A nice, slightly medicinal twist towards the end. Very good.

Finish: medium long, medium dry with smoked almonds. Unfortunately also a slightly soapy / zesty note which I don’t like too much.

Another great Ardmore 1992, balancing between zesty / mineral notes and tropical fruits, with a smooth underlying sootiness.

Score: 90/100