Ardmore Traditional Cask

This Speysider has such a lot going for it for the price. A great combination of peat and malt and smooth and oily texture. It'd just right for me and I will be re-ordering this one in bulk. A perfect marriage between Speyside and Highland malts.

Interesting. I always like to try new whiskies and didn't have a peated Speyside/Highland malt in my collection. It's not got the coastal character you often find with peated whiskies and it's certainly not as intense as the Southern Islay malts. It's very pleasant but didn't blow me away. Good value if you want to try something different and I respect their decision to bottle it non chill-filtered at 46%.

Bought this on a whim after reading the bottle, 1st dram straight.Wow so full of flavour rich peat palate with smooth creaminess.I normally drink laphroaig but im smitten,ill definitely be returning to this.

Just a drop of water is right but do try neat for the first dram. It has that hint of Islay nose moreso than palate. William Teacher and Sons own the Ardmore distillery and you can appreciate this wondrous malt with an almost state of worship knowing its a large part of the great Highland Cream. They also own Glendronach which I'm yet to try, thats one to look forward to.

@Bluesman: the different answers are because the boundaries aren't fixed. We go with Michael Jackson's classifications, so call it a Speyside.

A great dram!!! I don't understand why it's compered with Islay whisky, that's something quite different. One more thing, is it a "Highland" or a "Speyside"??? Different awnwers, depending where you read.

I bought a bottle of this today and I was quite surprised! I tried it room temperature, no ice. Immediately, I picked up on the peat and vanilla. The peat is not overwhelming. Next came the spice, then floral notes at the end. The oily texture is great, especially for a whisky younger than 10 years! Highly recommended to those who love texture, enjoy sweet & fruity floral notes, and love that distinctive light peaty smoke. And the color is like liquid gold. Beautiful!

A few ideas - Benriach Curiositas, Ballechin (Edradour's peated spirit), Benromach Peat Smoke + Organic Special Edition, and, for something a bit different, Balvenie Peated Cask (finished in casks that have held peaty whisky).

Are there any other peated Highland/Speyside malts out there?

Brought this on a whim, really glad I did. It has the richness of a classic highland whisky and the peatiness is pleasant rather than overpowering.

Hmm, was expecting more of this.. Pleasant peaty nose but not that smooth on the palate in fact quite bitter and not really rescued by an admittedly long and smoky finish. It is good value tho and an ok into to the peaty's. If you like this you should so try a Caol Ila 12 or better still a Laphroaig 10 which I prefer to this one.

why is it one cant seem to find the exact age of ardmore traditional anywhere?

The divisions between the different whisky regions in Scotland are quire fuzzy and we go with what Michael Jackson (the writer) said - he reckoned that Ardmore was a Speyside.

I got this and it is a highland malt ? Not speyside ?

I forgot to say... if you love this and want to treat yourself to a really fine bottle as a treat.... go for the Balvenie 17yr Peated cask. A similar idea to this, but older and smoother.

My wife likes this more than most of my more expensive bottles.She drinks it neat, i prefer a touch of water, good value.

Loved this whisky so much I've bought a 2nd bottle while the first is only a quarter gone (don't waste the offer). I love the peatiness and long finish, but found I have to drink it neat as even a tiny drop of water seemed to kill a lot of the flavour. If a normal Speyside isn't bold enough for you, but Islay malts go too far, this is the whisky for you!

Bought two bottles. Was a bit dissapointed at first because of the big peatiness. But my lord after I had gotten my head round it I found it impossible to stop drinking. Me and a couple of friends annihilated the first bottle in one evening.

Good,but not impressed as expected

Never tried anything from Ardmore before - but this is a truly superb whisky, especially if you favour peat. Regarding the water - it does have a lovely oily mouthfeel without, but I found with a very small amount (probably 5%) none of this was really lost and it really opened it up.