Ardmore Traditional Cask Scotch – Review

Ardmore Traditional Cask ScotchArdmore Traditional Cask Peated Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

92 Proof

Price Point: $45 – $55 for 750 ML

Distiller: Ardmore Distillery

 

Background

Various aging techniques (and tricks) are all the rage right now in the whiskey world. Many distillers are looking to find ways to create a more mature tasting whiskey at a cheaper price to them.  One of those ways is to reduce the size of the barrel where the whiskey rests and age it for a briefer period of time.  This is how the Laphroaig Quarter Cask and Ardmore Traditional Cask are aged.

It’s really quite simple – the smaller the barrel the more contact the whiskey will have with it, thus imparting more of its characteristics (flavor) into the liquid at a rapid rate. The individual distiller will have to weigh the costs – less time spent in the barrel versus more barrels to accommodate volume.

I have a feeling we’ll be seeing even more of the mainstream distillers adopt similar techniques in an effort to expand their portfolio and to create well-aged whiskeys at cheaper prices to the consumer.

 

Review

There’s subtle peat on the nose of Ardmore (considerably less than I anticipated from a whisky that has “Peated” on the label).  There’s light smoke, but nowhere near the intensity of an Ardbeg or Laphroaig – a completely separate style with no maritime characteristics.  This is a Highland whisky after all.

The taste is spicy, with a good amount of oak.  There’s a really nice balance of peat, and not too smoky at all.

The finish on Ardmore is pretty nice.  It tastes more mature than your average “no-age”, which is exactly the reasoning behind the quarter cask.  Decent length on the finish, too.

 

Rating & Recommendations

Ardmore Traditional Cask is a solid Scotch, earning an 84 out of 100.

This is definitely an above average whisky, but when I am looking for big peat flavor, I’ll venture to the West and explore Islay.

 

-Ryan

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