Ardmore 17 Year Old Douglas Laing Old Particular 2003 Single Refill Cask DL14000 Norway Exclusive bottled for Norsk Whiskyforbund (2020) 70cl

1 of 277 bottles sent away to Norway for their 6th Cask in the series of Norsk Whiskyforbund. It always seems like they like their whisky to be much hjigher ABVs than we prefer in the UK. We say it is strong. They say it is natural strength.

A large Victorian distillery, Ardmore has a heft and scale which is surprising given its gentle rural surroundings. It is also a rarity in terms of style – a peated Highland malt. For years it was the last distillery to fly this particular flag. It was also the second-last distillery to retain coal fires under its stills.

This bottle was distilled in March 2003 and Bottled in August 2020.

Tasting Notes

Nose : Opens with a powerful sweet peat quality, blackcurrants, blueberries and charcoal

Palate : Sweet and toasted barley, smoked streaky bacon, flambéed orange and ginger

Finish : Bonfire charred ham with a pepper, cinnamon, marmalade and herbal quality (CGL)

About Ardmore

Adam Teacher, son of Glasgow Blender William Teacher, decided it was time his family had their own malt whisky distillery and so built Ardmore Distillery in 1898. Not long after, Ardmore became a limited company and expanded its stills from two to eight stills in total. Around 600 ft above sea level sits the Ardmore Distillery, at the highest point of the Northern railway line in the Highlands of Scotland. This allowed for the founder, Adam Teacher, to easily transport materials from Glasgow to the rather remote location, allowing the distillery to thrive. Ardmore was sold to Beam Suntory in 2006 before becoming part of Beam Suntory’s world whisky portfolio including names such as Japanese Distilleries Yamazaki and Hibiki. Still to this day, the water source is from the naturally rising springs that are situated on the 1,500 ft Knockandy Hill. Ranging from lightly peated to sweet and fruity drams, the Ardmore became one of the last in Scotland to switch from fire to steam-heated stills.

58.6% ABV

70cl