ARDNAHOE Infinite Loch

The aroma is unremarkable, featuring dry hay, old wood shavings, and a musty scent like a damp boathouse fighting mildew. It's not grand or striking, but it doesn't detract from the upcoming taste. The palate is unexpectedly rich and smooth, coating the mouth and gums thoroughly and pleasantly. Small sips reveal pears and apples, then shift to a mild lemon citrus. A larger sip brings a surprising medley of flavors, including white grapes, honeydew, figs, apples, pears, and citrus. The mid-palate is more engaging, with the dry barn notes from the nose appearing to nicely contrast the almost slick texture, leading to a clean, sharp finish with a faint hint of salted lemon remaining. Adding water diminishes the flavors and texture; drinking it neat is advised. For a non-age statement from a new producer, this is quite good. It doesn't possess the depth and subtlety of the Inaugural Release, nor the smokiness of the Bholsa, but it's light and refreshingly enjoyable on its own, and I'm eager to see their future releases over the next five years.

Aroma: Pleasant, expected peat/smoke and iodine saltiness. Very inviting. Taste: Candied lemon, ashen smoke, hints of pepper. Finish: More ashy bonfire, sea salt, reasonably long. Overall, this is certainly a young Scotch but still very good. It possesses all the expected Islay characteristics but with a really pleasant candied lemon/citrus that stands out as the primary note for me. Quite interesting from a young producer, and one that I'm eager to see how they evolve in the coming years.

Considering the distillery launched in 2019, this is excellent! While the spirit seems youthful and lacks the robust character of mature Scotch, it's truly commendable! From the nose: vanilla, scorched wood, baked apple pie, and a hint of medicine. From the palate: honeyed sweetness, scorched wood, apple, pear, and a salty air. The end is quite sweet with a whisper of mint. In summary, a fantastic pour. Eagerly anticipating their older expressions.

Compared to the initial bottling, which was a bit reserved, this is smoother and fruitier when the glass is warmed. It has pleasant, balanced notes of peat, sea spray, and salt, along with some black coffee, pepper, cocoa, chocolate, and a faint hint of chalky oyster shell. Quite impressive for a newcomer to the Islay scene!

Honestly, I really like this. I felt a bit pressured to buy it in Edinburgh and was concerned about the low rating here, but it's a straightforward, enjoyable Islay. The distillery is very new, but it shows potential, and I don't mind having a full bottle to drink.

Big smoky, peaty nose and flavor that develops into vanilla oakiness. Smoke dominates on the finish. Not for the faint hearted, a typical peaty Islay.