Ardmore 13yo 55.9% ABV (Fragrant Drops).

This Ardmore 13yo is a highland single malt Scotch whisky distilled at the Ardmore distillery. It’s originally from a Refill Barrel, Cask # 9001334 Original cask, that was originally filled: on the 4th of June 2009. The Whisky was then finished in a 1st-Fill Mezcal Barrel from November 2021, until finally being bottled on the 6th of October 2022. The ABV is 55.9%, and 213 bottles were produced, and can be found at around £93.

Appearance

Very light gold in colour here, white wine like. The medium thick swirl line beads up immediately, and gives the whole glass a coating. #thewhiskeychaps

Nose

Yes you can smell mezcal, it’s nicely mixed with the peat, and if the mezcal cask was particularly Smokey it could be enhancing it too. The peat is coming across quite medicinal, leaning towards an Islay peat, with germoline, and sticky plasters. #thewhiskeychaps

There is a sweetness here, has to be the mezcal, another that’s quite juicy, lime and lilt, the totally tropical taste. Sweet botanicals also come through, green apples lol. #thewhiskeychaps

Amen!!! #thewhiskeychaps

— Fragrant Drops (@fragrantdrops) March 12, 2023

Palate

Again nice mouthfeel, and really full on, hold onto your seats! Lots of peat, skips full of the stuff, brown sauce, jerk seasoning, smouldering fire embers, dates, lime, definitely botanicals, yes germoline, packs of sticky plasters. #thewhiskeychaps

Meat juices on bbq coals, I’m gonna say it’s nutty too, smoked hickory, and yet the sweetness does hang on in there. The spices eventually cool down, and I’m getting green grapes, greengages, Victoria plums. #thewhiskeychaps

It’s definitely a thinker. I could sit with this for hours! #thewhiskeychaps

— Fragrant Drops (@fragrantdrops) March 12, 2023

Finish

Long side of medium in length, still peaty, and very fruity, I’m gonna need a big glass of water after this, it’s a proper assault of the taste buds, it’s another big dram, with loads going on. #thewhiskeychaps

My thoughts

Independently bottled Ardmore, is music to my ears to be honest. Time and time again Ardmore whisky has proved its worth to me. As i buy 90% or more of my whiskies from indie bottlers iv’e really come to love Ardmore, and the various maturation and finish styles iv’e found it in. Now, Mezcal, there was a time when i had never tasted Mezcal, but after a great Whiskey Chaps mezcal tasting with Matt Mckay – @thedramble on Twitter, i can easily smell and taste the Mezcal influence on this Ardmore, and i love it.

The peat mixed with the botanical smokey character of the Mezcal produces a wonderful whisky. I really enjoyed it, but, if someone who hadn’t got into more unusual maturation types tried it they may be a little surprised. Whereas, if you enjoy Mezcal matured whisky this might be up your street as the effect on the Ardmore is quite strong. Knowing more about Mezcal now, i knew what i hoped to find in this dram, and i found plenty of it. Winner winner chicken dinner as they say, i’d happily have a bottle in my whisky cupboard.

A big thank you goes out to Rachel Dixon from Fragrant drops, for joining us on the tasting this whisky was a part of, and for the use of her tweets in this review. Fragrant Drops website can be found here.