About Happily ever after: Our Father’s Day 2024 US-exclusive cask is a soft and nuanced malt redolent with light smoke and a ‘surf ‘n turf’ inspired profile. This 25-year-old is very special, indeed, hailing from a different generation of production at Distillery 66 and yielding aromas and flavours you’ll be hard-pressed to discover today.
Tasting Panel Note: We were surprised by the pale colour pouring this dram, however when we nosed it, we moved into a land of fairy tales. We imagined a cosy cottage in a winter wonderland, a starlit night, a full moon and, after a long walk, the first thing we spotted was the smoke coming out of the chimney. We entered and a warm hug awaited us, while our dog was wagging its tail – we had arrived! With a drop of water, the aroma of skirt steak, chimichurri sauce and grilled lobster tails in a white wine sauce filled the room. And yes, we all lived happily ever after.
Nose: Smoked honey, old books, book glue, cigarettes/ash trays, apple cores, more smoke, gentle malt barley.
Mouthfeel: Silky but thin.
Palate: Very very similar to the other 25 year Ardmores that SMWS has released: big burst of honey and cigarette smoke, apple and peat, smoked sugar, old wood, old books, dusty rooms, soft lemon, and faint meatiness. Quite rich.
Finish: Long - smoke, honey, lemon-in-tea, wood tannins.
Verdict: Another big winner from SMWS in terms of Ardmore. Ardmore has been killing it the last two or three years in terms of independent bottles! Of course, I'm terribly biased. But as of early September there are still 100+ bottles of this available because the price is $325, which is high for a distillery with a niche following.
