Ardmore 24 Year (WhiskyNerds)

 

I bought this heavily recommended independent bottling of Ardmore from the Dutch store Passion for Whisky, which I highly recommend - although the shipping time is long (~2-3 weeks) they pack very well and have an incredible selection of things you just can't get in the US. For example: this Ardmore, which is Netherlands only, as far as I can tell. 

24 years in ex-bourbon, bottled at 49.6% ABV. I have had nothing but success with these 20+ year Ardmores, so I'm extremely, extremely excited about this one. The late '90s were a particularly high point for Ardmore, it seems - the others I've had from that era have also been rich, complex, and wonderful. Let's try it for a spin:

Nose: Once this unwinds a bit - and it takes a while - it's a lovely, layered nose. I get orchard fruit, something like an Arnold Palmer (lemonade and iced tea), machine oil and light-to-medium smoke, soft malted barley, clay, pineapple, moss, mango, and honey. Surprisingly bright - the citrus really smiles through here. Some old leather, interestingly. 

With a touch of water: it gains a fragrant note (lemon blossom?), and softens a bit overall. Some lemongrass, some ... copper??

Mouthfeel: Quite chewy, viscous.

Palate: An interesting and surprisingly funky followup to the nose! A LOT of industrial funk here - like older Springbank gets as well. One review I found said "resin" which I think is right on - like something in a dim forest glade. Quite a thick layer of smoke here. Lemons, apples, pineapple, pear in spades - lots of fruit. Tea and moss. A tiny bit of alcohol tingle. 

With a touch of water: Gets a bit more metallic and industrial. Like old gun grease. The finish gets a little drier. The texture becomes a bit like olive oil infused with lemons. Notes of ash (like old Bowmore) enter at the end of the development. Surprisingly sophisticated. 

Finish: Smoke, tea, wood, grilled lemons, apples, more smoke. Very long finish, sticks in the corners of the mouth for eons. I saw one review said "yeasty" which is oddly accurate - unsure what creates that impression, but it's good. 

Verdict: Well, this is the best Ardmore I've ever had, that's for sure. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Blackadder bottlings I've had were all stellar - tremendous - but this is off the charts good. A model example of taking a fantastic spirit run, put in a great cask, and just letting them merge for decades. A++, and still available as of early April 2023 if you want some.