Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50%ABV
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Hunter Laing & Co.
Official website: ardnahoedistillery.com
In the autumn of 2025, Ardnahoe, the ninth distillery of Islay, bottled two limited edition whiskies collected under the name “Càraid Ìleach,” which in Gaelic means “the couple of Islay.”
Their peculiarity lies in having been matured completely, for an unspecified period, in ex-sherry casks, but not the usual butts, rather the smaller quarter casks. This choice is perhaps driven by the desire to accelerate the definition of the profile. The alcohol content remains the same, at 50%ABV.
Ardnahoe Càraid Ìleach Edition Nº1
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry Oloroso
Average price: € 90.00
This first edition features aging in ex-oloroso sherry casks. 2,510 bottles were released on the market.
Tasting Notes
The color is amber.
On the nose, coal meets caramel while apricot and peach end up on the grill. Notes of leather but also zest of orange, dark chocolate, as well as ground coffee and hazelnut, define an aromatic spectrum whose balance is framed by a balsamic note of licorice and a generous sprinkle of pepper.
On the palate, the ensemble aligns coherently with the sense of smell, balancing the nature of the distillate and the contribution of the cask, the bitter dimension of smoke, and the sweetness of sherry, according to the previously mentioned descriptors, with an added touch of smoked chocolate cream. Crème brûlée, a generous amount of pepper, and orange zest lead to a decidedly long finish that pairs smoke and sweetness in a successful marriage.
Review: I feared a whisky that was a bit unbalanced towards the wood, but instead, this first edition is absolutely successful, also due to a perfectly calibrated strength. A balanced dram that could please both fans of tar and those of pastry.
Vote: 88/100
Ardnahoe Càraid Ìleach Edition Nº 2
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry PX
Average price: € 90.00
This second edition, on the other hand, comes from ex-PX casks. 2,613 bottles on the market.
Tasting Notes
The color is bronze.
On the nose, it is clear from the outset how the balance that characterized the first edition is lacking. In my opinion, the cask “overwhelms” the distillate. The inclination towards sweetness is determined by hints of caramel, honey, mandarin, and brown sugar, while the smoke remains a faint aromatic ripple in the background. A refreshing balsamic note and a sprinkle of black pepper contribute to enriching an otherwise somewhat one-dimensional picture.
On the palate, after a spicy entry, the smoke is already a bit more noticeable, oscillating between incense and a bonfire extinguished for hours, but it fails to overturn the established order set by the sweetness that, as in the nose, plays a dominant role. Here, the caramelized fruit is mostly placed on the grill, and the brown sugar is slightly less intense, but the oily, enveloping body tells a story that closely resembles that of the nose. In the retro-nasal, a note of fig jam aligns silently with the indications of the majority.
The finish of medium persistence shows a blend of pepper and caramel, with a faint memory of cigarette smoke, all in harmony with the rest of the drink.
Review: It’s not that it’s a bad whisky, but compared to the first edition, it lacks the balance between the distillate and the cask, with the latter decisively overpowering the former, imposing itself with unexpected force.
Vote: 84/100