2003 Cooper's Choice Ardmore 17 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Tasting notes: [15ml sample] Another release that quickly sold out in Australia and one of the older indie Ardmore's released of late. What happens to Ardmore when it ages is something like what happens to older Islays. The peat recedes and integrates. Here you get a delicate, almost frail veil of smoke that suggests char and toasty notes, rather than overt peatiness. Silky, medium-dry flavours of sponge cake, dilute honey and peppered water biscuits are rounded off with a deft touch of smokey vanillas. The effect takes Ardmore on a trajectory both graceful and elegant that few malts achieve in the peated category. Bourbon cask matured. 306 bottles. 48.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Extremely limited stocks.

Notes from the bottlers... Expect lemon and honey on the notes, with dry bonfire peat smoke. The palate is gentle and fully integrated, with notes of vanilla and ginger. The finish if of good length with building fruits and fading peat. A delightful dram for fans of Ardmore.