Tastes

After i gave the Ardmore Traditional Cask a solid 5.0, i was eager to get my hands on its succesor, the Ardmore Tradition and it didn't dissapoint. First you have to understand that Ardmore Traditional Cask was my second favorite Whisky ever, and it was discontinued, to be replaced with "TRADITION", and i hoped i could be happy with this new expression. Eventhough i like the Traditional Cask better, this one is a solid, balanced dram, very enjoyable. Bottled at 46% abv, with an Old Gold Color. On the Nose it is perfect, very peaty, with prunes, vanilla, butter, nutmeg and chocolate powder notes. On the palate is where it lost some points, but mainly because i compare it to the other Ardmore i love so much. Very balanced flavors, with notes of nutmeg, pepper, peanut butter, liquorice, hot oak, ashes and a nuclear spice bomb, very pleasant but hotter than the Traditional Cask that it replaced. Finish is very long and mouth watering, and it resembles a little to Highland Park 12yo. Overall it is a wonderful dram, 93 out of 100; love Ardmore. Get your hands on it, even if it is only for the travel retail market. Cheers!

Ardmore is one of my favorites. This expression is almost an islay malt for its profile, but it is a good dram. 46%abv, amber color. On the nose: Rubber, Alcohol note is strong; Nerf toys (like tenis balls or something similar); after a couple minutes Dark chocolate opens. Prunes peel. Some salty island profile, even for a highland. Milk chocolate. On the palate is brutal. Ashy at maximum levels. Oaky at maximum levels. Black pepper. Medicinal notes. Rubber just as ardbeg or laphroaig, very similar to these two. Finish long and sulphuric. Some acid like burn, but strangely pleasant. Very balanced. Overall i score this dram with an 88 over 100. Ardmore is always solid. Cheers!

Ok, now i am convinced Ardmore is one of my favorite brands, i have had 3 of these beauties and i have loved them all. And they have something that makes them more special: They are cheap. Bottled at 40%abv, with a pale staw color. On the nose, some peat, pepper, dates, blackberry marmalade, vanilla, honey, freshly cut apples, and chocolate powder. Amazing. On the palate is also a masterpiece: the word here is BALANCE. Ginger, wood in an elegant way, a little hot, a little spicy, a little ashy, some saltyness and a medium spicy aftertaste all wrapped up in a beatiful way. Overall this is a 95 over 100, another of my top whiskies. If you are looking something to buy, buy Ardmore.

This relatively new release from Ardbeg is a very nice expression (most islay whiskies are), very traditional on the taste and aromas from the famous islay, that can be summarized in one phrase: it is the softer, smoother ardbeg i have had, at least on the palate. 46.6%abv, pale straw color. Everything is typical from islay. The nose notes were: peat, wet socks, burnt rubber, pepper, salt, creosote, english sauce and medicinal notes. On the palate is smooth, like bowmore or some taliskers. Salt, pepper, clove, ginger, some old orange peels. Nice. Not harsh at all. Finish is medium with peppery notes. Overall this dram feels like a smooth ardbeg 10yo, easier to drink. It deserves at least a 88 over 100.

Almost everything that Ardbeg makes is fantastic. This one was no exception to that rule. Ardbeg Perpetuum was released for Ardbeg Day on 2015 to conmemorate Ardbeg's 200th anniversary. It has a beautiful "infinite symbol" on the label. Bottled at 47.4%abv On the nose, Lemon. Peat is overwhelming, maybe not in a appealing way. Vanilla, Bacon, Lime and Heathery peat. On the palate, it is amazing. Vanilla. Lemon infusion tea. Pepper and Moss. Such and interesting and delicious dram. Perfect score here. Aftertaste is also very interesting, since it has a tobacco cigar note, not a tobacco leaf, but a tobacco cigar. Peat smoke is also present in a great way. Overall this is a very nice dram. A nice tribute to this distillery and its anniversary. 93 out of 100. Sláinte!

The famous Ardbeg Gallileo, the whisky who fooled everyone. If you don't know the story behind this whisky, let me tell you it is a fake but amazing one. It seems that somehow Ardbeg Marketing departments or something like that made sure, via unofficial websites and social networks, that a small part of this whisky had gone to space.... Yes, that is right, the myth was that a cask of whisky was sent to space in a shuttle to the international space station, and it matured for a little period and this was a scientific test to find out how whisky matured outside the planet earth. This of course did not happen, and Ardbeg limited to officially say that Ardbeg Gallileo is a tribute to a scientific discover of a space-related issue. Ok, now lets talk about the whisky. Bottled at 49%abv, and it has an age statement. It says distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2012. The whole label is misterious enough with a Rocket and the 1999 year all over it. Beautiful bottle though. It has been matured in ex bourbon barrels and finished in sicilian marsala red wine casks. On the nose, Lemon, Pear, very Acid-kind of aromas, there is your typical Ardbeg peat; Very Perfumed peat. Grapefruit, Vanilla and Toffee. On the palate, it is super smooth. Red fruits for a second, probably from the wine casks, then peat. Vanilla and Lemon also present. Finish has a burnt tobacco and peppery note. This is a very balanced whisky. Overall this is a great dram, a very collectible bottle, but it feels that it can be a little better in every aspect. Lovely but for the price, Uigeadail is a better option. 88/100

A tasty little fellow. The Antiquary 12yo is very "grainy" on the nose but the peatiness on the palate delivers a good experience for any whisky drinker. This is a Blended scotch whisky thay belongs to Tomatin. Bottled at 40%abv On the nose, grain whisky. Lots of it. Butter Grain whisky aroma; Chocolate brownie and Lemon. On the palate it is very very good. Only four notes but very well done. Vanilla, Coffee, Dulce leche and mild Peat. Delicious. Aftertaste grain whisky returns but the peatiness hangs in there. Butter, vanilla and peat. Overall this is a normal blended scotch, its hints of peat help a lot. 81 over 100.

Amazing dram. Full of flavor, very complex, very versatile, quite the ride. Incredibly fruity on the nose, peaty on the palate. It is made using scotch whiskies (i believe from islay) and indian whisky from the amrut distillery. Bottled at 50 abv, tawny color. On the nose is beautiful. So fruity. Naranjilla, cough syrup, caramel, lime, citric aromas, hazelnut, hanuta snack, almonds. On the palate it was totally different but great. Fire. Coal. Peat, ashes. It burns your lips. Aftertaste is sulphuric but not long, pleasant. Overall this is an extraordinary dram. Absolutely recommended. 95 over 100.

Very interesting dram. Different, full of flavor, great aroma, beautiful experience. On the nose is very pleasant, Prune peel, Vanilla, Alcohol notes are present which makes me believe it is younger than 12 years old, it has no age statement. Lots of Caramel syrup, Medicinal plants and very Perfumed (as if it were older than 18 years) There is a hidden peat somewhere that shows itself for seconds then hides. Very complex on the nose, very appealing, interesting, almost THRILLING. ON THE PALATE IT IS A DIFFENT DRAM. AS INDIAN FOOD, INDIAN WHISKY. the nose tells you sweet, and starts sweet on the palate for a moment then a burning hotness starts, not your usual hotness, is like gasoline, or kerosene, with explosions of spicyness like red chillis, "ají cholo" as we say in Ecuador, and black pepper. Very spicy ultra hot and burning (46%abv) the finish is medium full of spices, like taking a spoon of red hot chilli peppers (nice rock band too). Light bodied but full of flavor. Burns a lot but in a pleasant way (not like arran 14). If you chew it you will find something that resembles wheat or bread, caramel and then this amazing spicyness. Changing evolving flavors in your mouth i got to say it is a wonderful experience. I wouldn't use it for a drinking party night, i would use it as a starter for mexican food. Amber colour, non chill filtered, beautiful story behind the name of the brand, a very recommended whisky for a change

Last time i had an Aberlour Casg Annamh was the Batch 001, and it was delicious, and i rated it 88 over 100. Without looking at that review, when i tried this Batch 002, the score was the same, and something also repeats: you should have this one in your collection as well. Bottled at 48%abv, this one has a very lovely deep copper color. On the nose: Blacknerry marmalade, Glazed pork, sawdust, lacquer; dry vanilla cake, wedding cake. On the palate: more of the same.- blackberry marmalade, spicy ginger, nutty, prunes, liquorice. Aftertaste is quite nice. Tobacco, ginger, some kind of herbal sweetness, chocolate. Overall this is a solid dram. Very recommended, very balanced. 88/ 100.