Ardmore Port Wood Finish

Definitely not what I expected from a distillery I usually love; I guess there's an exception to every rule. Well, it's not something that really surprises me, since I'm not a big fan of port wood finishes or maturation. Bottled at 46% ABV, a beautiful reddish color. On the nose: Ashtray smoke, grapefruit. Thick orange caramel. The aroma feels dusty / powdered. Mineral water. It actually doesn't have a powerful aroma. Wet cardboard. More thick caramel after the first sip. On the palate, it gets a little better, but it's kind of boring. Pepper. Orange. Caramel. Port wine sweetness; It is more oaky than winey. Very light, easy to drink. It is sweet without any alcohol note. Aftertaste is good, definitely the best part without being anything special. Nice mouthfeel at the end. Ashy, ginger; not overly peated. Overall, this is not the best dram I've ever had from this distillery. It's okay at best. 74 out of 100, forgettable.

This is not your usual Highland, which is fine. It also doesn't seem like a 12-year-old, displaying significant maturity and complexity. Finally, you could have convinced me it had a port wood finish, because while it's definitely fruity and sweet throughout, port is not what I'd think of. The aroma is strangely peated, with hints of caramel and lemons. The taste is truly remarkable, featuring notes of salt, sugar, and hazelnut (like a delightful sweet and salty confection). The finish endures and persists, lingering for ages with sweetness that transforms into salty richness. This is excellent!

Aromatic spices, with hints of pear, pine, and some gentle peat. Light, with notable sweetness, possibly from the casks. Some distinct woodiness that makes it a bit dry. The finish is quite short. I enjoy this as a good, slightly sweet Highland. Excellent value and suitable for everyday drinking.

Quite enjoyable. Sweet and smooth; I'm detecting some peat, but it's difficult to be certain if that's from the drink I just tried (though I did deliberately cleanse my palate). Regardless, this is pretty good, but there might be better options for the price.

Fairly gentle and fruity, with subtle peat from the nose to the finish. A little spice on the palate. Overall, a very nice and complex scotch.

Excellent Scotch. Strawberries are present from the nose through the palate. Sweet and full-bodied, with a slight peppery character and mild peat. The finish is smooth. I absolutely love it!