Ardmore 11 Year (SMWS 66.31 "Apples at Hallowe'en")

 

The last time I visited Jack Rose, I had another older Ardmore (distilled in 1998 in this case) at the bar, to help round out my Ardmore experiences. This one comes from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), cask 66.31, spent 11 years in a refill sherry butt, and was nicknamed "Apples at Hallowe'en." 

Ardmore 9 Year (Signatory Vintage Cask Strength)

 

Periodically I peruse the website of what is probably the best scotch retailer in DC that is walkable distance to me - Potomac Wine and Spirits in Georgetown - and do a perfunctory search for my old standbys: Blackadder, Ardmore, Laphroaig, etc etc. 

During my most recent search for Ardmore, this came up: a 9 year independent bottling from Signatory, part of their Vintage Cask Strength Collection. I couldn't resist. 

SMWS April 2024 Outturn Review (Jack Rose Saloon)

 

Here is a quick review of the six samples from the April 2024 Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) outturn! First, some quick pics: 

First sample: 18 year Glen Grant, finished in PX sherry, 55% ABV, nicknamed "A Major Treat." My notes: Orange, vanilla, dust/dunnage, shortbread, cherry, malt barley, herbs galore on the nose. Palate brings more cherry, lime, sugar, lots of alcohol (at 18 years!), malt, oak, ore herbs. Finish is quite short, with oak, cherry stones, hints of honey. Water smoothes it out. 

Second sample: 9 Year Ben Nevis, also finished in PX sherry, 58.6% abv, nicknamed "Cheeky Wee Upstart." Nose has earth, golden syrup, apple cores (!), a vague industrial note, moss, candy shop aroma. Palate is much brighter, and very hot - lots of alcohol burn, chili peppers, apples, malt sugar, oak, pepper. Opens a bit with water: deeper apples, less alcohol, more "foresty." Finish is reasonable, tons of dry oak, baked apple, and dry cocoa. 

Third sample: 16 Year Royal Brackla, finished in a bodega-sourced Oloroso cask, 56.3% abv, nicknamed "The Stage is Set." Nose brought lots of black pepper and honey, melon, white grapes, tons of butter (!), oak, apples, pears. Palate was more of the same: apple, pear, sugar, oak, lots of pepper, lots of butter. Finish was surprisingly short, with apple, oak, and pepper. 

Fourth sample: 14 Year Auchroisk, finished in PX sherry, 55.5% ABV, nicknamed "Cross-Cultural." Nose was lovely: grape must, cherry cough syrup, grape candies, field herbs, and a nice grassiness. Palate continued these notes in a big sweet-to-bitter sweep: cinnamon, grape, hints of cognac, hay, bitter herbs. Finish was medium to long, with fresh grapes, oak, herbs. I liked this one a lot. 

Fifth sample: 11 Year Highland Park, vatting of two casks. First fill bourbon, 65.7% abv (!!), nicknamed "You Only Live Once." Easily the crowd favorite of the night, the host Mike Hom called it "beautiful," and I agreed completely. Nose was honey over honey, salt, vanilla, fresh heather, minerals. Palate brought more honey, oil, salt, rocks and heather. Pure and clean. Finish was long: salt, heather, oak, honey. Just lovely stuff. 

Sixth and final sample: 9 Year Bunnahabhain, heavily peated and finished in PX sherry, 58.1% abv, nicknamed "Quo Vadis?" it was also heavily popular. Nose was wood, iodine, lemon, coal, oak, bacon, clay, pineapple, rubber... very rich, very dense. Palate brought lemon, ash, iodine, oak, rubber, pineapple. Finish lasted forever: lemon, sugar, ash. Everyone thought it was a teenaged Laphroaig (!), but no - Bunnahabhain for the win! 

Benrinnes 15 Year (Blackadder Raw Cask)

 

Benrinnes is a distillery from whom I've had very little. According to my records, in fact, I've only had a single bottle - from Single Cask Nation, no less - and I loved it. This one, a 15 year old that's finished in rum casks from Barbados, caught my eye immediately because of my lack of experience with the spirit.