Batch 213

Good Ardmore character from the start: sitting around the fire pit, woodsmoke on your clothes; then some tinned pear, sweet straw, apple and light golden syrup. Water brings out more smoke along with green/vegetal notes of pine and angelica.

A smoky start, and maybe punchier than you might expect from the nose. In the middle of the tongue the smoke parts, allowing the classic Ardmore apple/Calvados-like flavours to flow uninterrupted, along with raw sugar and hazelnut. Then the smoke returns, carrying them all with it towards the finish. Water lowers the smoky element and you see the balance more clearly.

Sage, ashes, apple.

There’s not enough Ardmore on the market. If you have any sense, grab this.

Looking beyond the Cinder and Smoke.

The Pedro Ximénez here adds not just raisin, but vinosity; in time, there’s turmeric and a light nuttiness mingling with dried flowers. All in all, the elements are well-balanced. In time there’s even a hint of blue cheese, plum jam and Seville orange. Water, it has to be said, makes things just a little ponderous, as it swings between fresh fruit and heaviness.

A sweet start. Again the thick, sweet, sugary vinous quality comes through as the Pedro Ximénez takes charge, but there’s just enough punch from the distillery character to balance. It dries slightly in the mid-palate, before billowing out once again. Water helps, adding spiciness and some citric heat, before the sweet/dried fruits flump back in.

Raisin and sultana.

Though a big, sweet, raisin-like mouthful, the tail isn’t totally wagging the dog.

Autumn’s Child sings its song.

Another whisky with strong distillery character undisturbed by wood. Opens with Imperial’s signature American cream soda alongside an almost bland pear quality, then applesauce baby food and a light, green, leafy element (cucumber and celery) that steadily drifts towards more oxidised elements (oil/primed canvas). Water shows its layered complexities and brings out sweet citrus, greengage, preserved fruit and elegant maturity.

Has a sweet, buttery, almost waxy quality to start with, then mango puree and passion fruit, light, oxidised fruits and Vin Jaune. Just as you are relaxing into this expansive mid-palate there’s a buzz of heat. Water brings out those textured silky fruits and emphasises the fantastic length.

Tropical fruit.

Imperial is a rare beast these days. This is one of the best.

Living in The Sensual World.

Rich and sweetly caramelised fruits. Some maple syrup, toffee, black fruits and a touch of nut. The wood is well-balanced here; it’s more about a concentration of fruits. Water brings out preserved lemon and coffee cake.

As you expect from the nose: big, sweet and soft, with toasted cereal and blackberry puree. There’s a coconut flesh-like dryness on the sides of the tongue, which balances the mix of malt extract, black cherry and nuts. Water brings out a slightly burnt note, then an almost meaty mushroom quality. It remains soft and sweet.

Clean with a light bite.

Aged in ex-Bourbon barrels, then finished in virgin American oak. A solid performer with good depth.

Raised and happily Beached.

Subtle smoke to start with. There’s more clearly-apparent Jura elements here: dry grass/bracken and cereal, before things then move towards hard Highland toffee, walnut and then some bitter chocolate. It maintains this chunkiness even with water, where an oilier mature element pokes out along with bergamot, and ginger stem in syrup.

A calm, soft start, then caramel toffee thickness, smoked barley and nuttiness. By the middle you’re getting into the ripe fruits. There’s more obvious structure here than on the Tide and it’s none the worse for it. Water slightly reduces the impact.

Blackcurrant and light smoke.

Rich, with some layering. Jura’s renaissance continues.

I’m Getting Back into Getting Back into You.

A mixture of mashed banana, then light floral notes and clover honey, before it springs to life with the aroma of a florist’s stall, and gentle, fleshy fruit. Water makes it spicier with light raspberry and peach, then a tiny hint of marzipan. It’s simply lovely.

Immediately fragrant and lifted. There’s carnation, apricot juice and light cinnamon on the back. By the middle of the palate things have become almost effervescent, with added icing sugar on light fruits, while retronasally there’s a perfumed whiff of iris, lily-of-the-valley and jasmine. Water makes things fresh, sweet and floral.

Light and clean.

Have it cold, have it long, but have it. Marked in its competitive set.

A taste of Summer Wine.