2009 Lady of the Glen Ardmore Single Cask #4084 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

All-natural Ardmore must be the most underrated of all the mainland malts. When they hit across a plot of exceptional St Fergus peat - as they seem to have done here - the result could almost be mistaken for a high quality Campbeltowner. Mingling with Ardmore's traditional wood smoke is an unexpected citrus / saline / coastal freshness; phenols further encroach as lanolin and menthol, giving the aroma a medium-peat Bruichladdich feel. The palate follows through in a melting pot of sweet wood smoke and toffee apple-laced barley flavours. Controlled spices add balance and zing. The finish is dry, ashy, minerally, medium long. Cask strength Ardmore is invariably satisfying. This bottling captures that little something extra. 57.6% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 216 bottles from a refill barrel.

Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Almost coastal with a mineral rich, oak and smoke quality. A touch of orange bitters and fresh ginger give a spicy impression but balanced with sweetness from vanilla and honeycomb. Palate: The costal notes are now more like salted almonds and peanuts with the smoke and peat in the background. This is replaced with vanilla, tropical fruit and peppered spice qualities. Finish: Long and now more citrus led with notes of zesty lemon, dried apricots and orange barley sugar sweets. The smoke is consistently present but fades to leave a barbequed lime quality.