Thanks to Tom Smith, head of the US branch of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") who stood me this dram after the recent panel tasting at the Jack Rose Saloon in Washington DC. An 11 year Ardmore from a refill ex-bourbon barrel, I couldn't resist - I love Ardmore.
Here are the official notes, from back in 2013:
There was something of the art class in the nose (poster paints, charcoal, paper, pencils, leather satchels); also ginger snaps, pepper, hazelnuts, Pears soap, wood-smoke and
venison sausages. The palate was delightful – a gentle marriage of smoky, sweet and light savoury flavours – mild chilli, lemon bonbons, pears, vanilla and honey on burnt toast. The reduced nose suggested old libraries and sweetie shops, with rainbow drops, popcorn, pepper
and hessian sacks of smoky barley. The palate now discovered heathery, herbal notes; butter-
scotch and malt extract, while the muted, measured sweet smokiness continued to enchant us. The distillery was built by Teachers.
Alright - sounds good! Paint and paper, leather, ginger, smoke, pears... how can you lose? Here's what I thought:
Nose: Machine oil, apples and pears, light peat, medium smoke, honey, and tons of ... metal. Like smelling a car engine that's cooling off after a drive. Some caramelized pork, like in Vietnamese cooking.
Mouthfeel: Medium-thick.
Palate: Follows the nose: Meat, motor oil, apples and pears, smoke, honey/vanilla.
Finish: Long. Smoke and fruit and some pepper. Faintly floral.
Verdict: Another lovely Ardmore, this time from a decade ago. Even though I only had an ounce of this, I was delighted anyway. Such a unique signature. The bottle had about 50% left in it when I drank this, so if you find yourself at Jack Rose in Spring of 2023, give it a whirl.
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