Ardmore Port Wood Finish 12 Years
Older Whiskys from the Ardmore distillery are rarely found. Among the younger standards is the Ardmore Legacy, as well as the Ardmore Port Wood Finish 12 years, reviewed here.A special characteristic of the distillery from the Scottish Highlands is that, unlike its neighbours, it uses peated barley and thus a fruity-smoky note can be found in the spirits.
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Buy on AmazonTasting Notes
Nose
An old solid wood cupboard in a room with a recently extinguished fireplace is the first image we have in our mind after having the aroma of the scotch in our nose for the first time. Slightly maritime-mineral aromas of a fruit cake follow. Every now and then we find red berries.
Palate
The Ardmore is dry and very sweet in the mouth. Red berries, fig and pine needles follow. A light peat smoke lies over everything.
Finish
Soft, relatively short and slightly smoky, but with flavours of oak and potting soil, the Port Wood Finish concludes.
Thoughts
Marcel 67/100 - (Good)
The Ardmore Port Wood Finish 12 Years is a pleasant companion for cozy evenings, scoring points with its sweet fruitiness and subtle smoky character. However, for fans of intense port wine notes, it remains more of a gentle attempt without that big wow factor.
Sascha 67/100 - (Good)
From a structural perspective, the Ardmore Port Wood Finish shows a solid balance between sweet fruit aromas and light smokiness, yet it falls short in the complexity and intensity of the port wine influences. Overall, a well-crafted Highland whisky, but one that doesn’t set a new benchmark.
Value for Money: 3/5 (Fair)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Ardmore Port Wood Finish 12 Years special compared to other Highland whiskies?
Ardmore uses peated barley, which is rather uncommon in the Highlands. This gives the Ardmore Port Wood Finish a unique combination of fruity notes and a subtle peat smoke that sets it apart from many other whiskies in the region.
How does the Port Wood Finish influence the taste of the Ardmore 12 Years?
The finishing in port wine casks imparts sweet fruity notes like red berries and figs, complementing the smoky character of the peated barley and creating a complex, harmonious depth of flavor.
Which aromas are particularly noticeable in the Ardmore Port Wood Finish 12 Years?
The nose is dominated by fruity notes such as red berries and fruitcake, complemented by a maritime minerality and light peat smoke. On the palate, pine needles and sweet elements join in, while the finish is soft, fading out with bitter oak wood and floral earth aromas.