Sound it out… “Aird Mhor” and you realize perhaps this might be “Ardmore”… and sure enough it is!

Our Whisky Ladies session dove straight into this cask strength offering from the Single Malts of Scotland range bottled by Speciality Drinks. It was purchased at their Whisky Exchange Covent Garden store under the guidance of Duncan.

So what did we think?

Aird Mhor 8 year (1 Dec 2009 / 25 June 2018) Cask 707910 55.3% 261 Bottles

• Colour – Golden
• Nose – Gentle smoke, leather, wood, citrus, orange, as it opened became increasingly sweet
• Palate – Spice, tobacco, warm, 2nd sip was like an echo of Laphroaig, calming, sweet
• Finish – Long finish with a bit of liquorice and vanilla
• Water – No surprise it initially ramped up the spice, but when it settled down it brought out a nicely nutty quality, helped balance it out a bit, with it a bit oily on the palate

This one was a bit curious and not for everyone. Going straight from zero to full cask strength was also an adjustment.. though one our Whisky Ladies can easily make!

One remarked this whisky was a bit of an “attention seeker” with a fierceness and forcefulness that demanded notice. In this respect, it showed its youthful enthusiasm.

We discovered that the hint of Laphroaig peat came from the Ardmore being matured in ex Laphroaig barrel.

It wasn’t complicated and yet it provoked a clear divide between those who enjoyed and those who didn’t care for it so much.

Apparently Mogambo also has something to say!

Aird Mhor + Mogambo courtesy DevPaula

What did the folks at The Whisky Exchange have to say?

A smoky dram from Aird Mhor (aka Ardmore distillery). While nearby distilleries are better known for unpeated whisky, Ardmore bucks the trend, making a powerful and smoky dram. This single-cask bottling from The Single Malts of Scotland – distilled on 1 December 2009 and bottled at years old on 25 June 2018 – is a classic, with punchy smoke, honey and lemon.

I must say, I rather think “punchy smoke, honey and lemon” is a rather good way to describe this one!

What else did we sample in our Whisky Ladies Peaty Highland drams evening?

• Inchmoan 12 year 46% (Loch Lomond Distillery Island Collection) – A Highland whisky from Loch Lomond distillery
• Ballechin Heavily Peated 12 year 54.5% – A final Highland from Edradour distillery

And what else have I explored from Ardmore?

• At Whisky Live Singapore 2018 as part of the La Maison du Whisy Artist 8 series – Ardmore 10 year 60.3%
• At  Whisky Ladies “bar bottle” evening late 2018 – Ardmore Triple Wood Peated 46%
• Part of the original private tasting groups North Star discovery with Ardmore Peat 8 year 58.7%
• And finally at the Gordon & MacPhail booth at  Whisky  Live  Singapore  2017 – Ardmore 1997 45%

You can also find Whisky Lady in India on:

• Facebook Whisky Lady in India – https://www.facebook.com/WhiskyLadyIN 
• Twitter @WhiskyLadyIN