.ardmore - 17yo - 1997 - cask# 5555

Our whisky friend Stefaan, from Whisky with Friends surprised us with a sample of this Ardmore, which he had received from Whisky Warehouse, the Belgian importer for Gordon & MacPhail. This particular cask, #5555, was bottled especially for the importer and this particular bottle was shared with other whisky bloggers and enthusiasts to sample and review. I am quite possible last of the Mohicans, and am not even sure the bottle is still available, but, you know, stuff came up and such.

.picture nicked from
Whisky with friends

55.4% abv, €85, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, honeycomb, fruit, apples, floral, heather, violets, a whiff of smoke, mint, eucalyptus

Palate: sweet, syrup, hot, sharp, white pepper, floral, violets, fruit, apples, citrus, marmalade

Finish: sweet, honeycomb, floral, long slightly metallic finish
Mark: +++/++ 

Conclusion: An OK whisky, but do not expect miracles from drinking it. She will do fine on a chilly spring evening as a warmer-upper because the weather is just not that good yet, but there will be no fanfares, stripping ladies or fireworks when you pour a dram. Which is fine. Really.

More info: Distilled in 1997, matured in cask #5555, bottled into 226 bottles in 2014

Many thanks to Stefaan of Whisky with Friends for selecting us among his friends who had the pleasure to receive one of the samples of this dram.