Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry Oloroso
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Hunter Laing & Co.
Average price: € 85,00
Official website: ardnahoedistillery.com
Vote: 85/100
In what is now an increasingly crowded island, Ardnahoe was the novelty of 2016, when Stewart Laing (founder of independent bottler Hunter Laing along with his sons Andrew and Scott) bought a piece of land on Islay, not far from Bunnahabhain, to build a distillery.
Operational since late 2018, last May it released its first official bottling (imaginatively called ‘inaugural’) from the stated age of five years, which is quite rare among new distilleries, almost all of which are eager to enter the market with their whisky on the cusp of three years and one day of ageing.
A peated whisky (40ppm) as tradition dictates, 75% ex-Bourbon and 25% ex-Sherry, at a quite remarkable alcohol strength and without artifice, among its production peculiarities is the use of a worm tube condenser, unique on the island, a reminder of a tradition now abandoned by most.
For the Fèis Ìle they have made a cask strength version, entirely in ex-Bourbon, and during the event they announced a partnership with the Celtic rock band Skerryvore, chosen as their brand ambassador in the world.
Tasting Notes
The first waves of smoke emerge impetuously from the glass as soon as it is poured, but given time to breathe they settle down, integrating citrus and red fruits (raspberry, blackberry, goji berries), intense notes of toasted malt and nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts), pear, baked apple, shortcrust pastry and crème brûlée. The peat is suspended between earth and asphalt, but is never overpowering. Slight connotations of leather in the background, with a crisp coastal breeze. Rich and multifaceted.
On the palate, it has a not particularly spicy charge (black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon), on a fairly oily body of stewed fruit (pear, red apple, plums, apricots), red fruits, citrus (blood orange, kumquat, tamarind), blackberry tart, nuts. Lit bonfire on the beach, although the marine part is somewhat subtended, more evident in length.
Quite long and saline finish, of grilled fruit, roasted peanuts and malt, citrus, spices.
Yes, it’s young, but it already has a lot to say, thanks to a skilful use of casks which, if the ex-Sherry ones win on points, knows how to integrate the ex-Bourbon influences with good balance. For a debut, it’s already very convincing, and given the premises it can only improve with time.