On tap for today I have as plain and pure of an Ardmore are you can get from the hallowed vaults of Douglas Laing. The whisky was bottled for K&L, a California-based spirits and wine retailer in the US, known for having the largest single cask program in the country— no physical retailer in the US sells as many single casks as them.

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Whisky: Ardmore 14 Year (2009), Douglas Laing for K&L

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 57%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 14 Years (Distilled 2009, Bottled 2023)

Notes: Burning grass and tin roofs— a beachside meadow was on fire as I sat with vanilla cream cookies and a few slices of bacon. Salty, but not quite briny, if that makes sense, with mellow notions of meat, vanilla, and malty sweetness, the aroma kept bringing me back to dry summer grass and shrubs with hints of sweet pool chemicals and sunscreen (a touch of copper and vaguely fruity). Medium-bodied on the palate, peppery and spirited at times, the flavors were similar with plenty of burnt grass and dry wood. A touch of cocoa dust and vanilla provided a hint of dessert with mild notions of pineapple and citrus, while plenty of pepper and treacle waited at the end for a slightly spicy, sweet, and acrid finale. The finish was medium to long with white pepper, ash, and sweeter vanilla cream cookies.

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Score: 6 (78)

Mental Image: Summer Pool Snacks

Conclusion: As expected there were no bells and whistles to this whisky; if you wanted a pure expression of Ardmore, then this is what I would recommend (even better, it was only $80 when it came out— so it was a fair value). It was a touch raw, phenolic, and spirited for my taste these days and I wondered how this would have been with a few more years in the cask— a thought I usually try to banish because its distracts from the whisky in front of me. 

I love these mellow maturations, but they can leave younger whiskies feeling a touch incomplete. Water brought more order to the proceedings, dampening the spirit, but drew out more acrid bitterness at the end. I thought it was still worth it as it made the dram more relaxing to sit with. Overall, a fun no frills whisky and a great companion pour to compare against older or more cask-driven Ardmore.