2010 Signatory Vintage Exclusive Selection Ink #4 Collection Single Cask Ardmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) with Free Glen Grant 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Get a FREE 700ml bottle of Glen Grant 12YO Single Malt valued at $99.99 when you purchase the 2010 Signatory Vintage Exclusive Selection Ink #4 Collection Single Cask Ardmore 12YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Notes on 2010 SV Ink#4 Ardmore 12 Year Old: Distilled in 2010, this smokey Highlander forms part of the INK #4 series selected for Le Comptoir Irlandais. Ardmore means “promontory” and the distillery overlooks a valley and borders a railway. Since its creation by Adam Teacher in 1898 up until the present day, its whisky has been characterised by the use of peat. New owners, Beam Suntory preference ageing in Bourbon barrels and Quarter casks. Most of the output is reserved for blends, in particular, Teachers. But as recognition for the quality of Ardmore's distillate has grown, more and more independents are jumping on board, delivering a viable alternative to increasingly expensive Island styles. Bottled in 2022, this one weighs in at 46% after spending the final period of its maturation in second-fill sherry butt #3. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: nice balance between the dry smoky notes and the more roasted and oily aromas of the Sherry cask. Palate: balanced, accessible and soft peat, smoky and earthy notes, fruity and spicy aromas from the Sherry cask. Finish: on peat.
Notes on Glen Grant 12 Year Old: Read enough of any whisky writer and you'll soon work out they have their favourites. At whiskyfun.com Serge Valentin loves Clynelish (or even better, Brora) but is rarely keen on Loch Lomond or Auchroisk. Read the Whisky Bible and you’ll quickly realise one of Jim Murray's all-time greats is Glen Grant, regardless of age. Driving home that point in the 2023 Bible are four separate reviews for the 12 year old, each as concise as they are complementary. Seldom found in Australia, at well under $100 the consensus is that it's one of the best values in lighter, everyday drinking. The brand's success must be partly due to the fact that Master Distiller, Dennis Malcolm has been on the job for sixty years. Experience over that sort of time span is a rare thing. Aged in a combination of Sherry and Bourbon casks so that it's not overly-sherried, the distillery’s signature spring flowers, fresh apple and pear notes are given a little added weight at 43%. As an alternative to Glenlivet, AnCnoc or Glenfiddich, Glen Grant 12YO might just become your new evening favourite.
Other reviews... Beautifully distilled, thoughtfully matured and deeply satisfying malt. 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
...Aged in a combination of bourbon and sherry barrels. Bold notes of butter cookies on the nose, with some spice and incense notes. Very fresh and toasty, with a clear grain and wood influence. The palate finds influences of coconut, almond, walnut, cinnamon, and cloves — lots going on, with a hint of orange peel influence driven by the sherry. This is particularly pronounced on the finish, which also sees notes of licorice and more almond peeking through. This is an outstanding daily dram at a solid price. - drinkhacker.com
Gold - Single Malt Scotch - to 12 Yrs - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022