Whisky : Ardmore 13 Year SMWS 66.162 “A true harmony of flavours”

Country/Region : Scotland/Highland

ABV : 60.8%

Cask : Ex-bourbon (12y), 2nd Fill French Oak Barrique (1y)

Age : 13 Years (Distilled 9 Mar. 2006)

Nose :  Tropical fruit, smoke, and meat.  Tropical fruit salad with rambutans, guava, and dragonfruit infused with the smoke of a nearby grill.  Milk chocolate appeared with Hershey’s Kisses and orange chocolate truffles.  Meatier notes developed over time with barbecued meat, fish sauce, and fried salami.

Palate : Medium to thick body with an oily-buttery mouthfeel.  Opened with ash covered grilled fruits before it transitioned into chocolate, charred marshmallows, and malty graham crackers— s’mores to save the day.  Water brought out notes of sweet cream and peppery spice which contrasted awkwardly with ash and salt.  

Finish : Lingering pepper spice and mild dryness.

Score : 5

Mental Image : Summertime Grillmaster

Notes : I really enjoyed this the first time I tried it, but found myself marking it down every subsequent time I sat down with it.  It seemed to become a bit spicier and I found my notes included more emphasis on pepper and less fruits as it went along.  I thought the nose on this Ardmore remained great the whole time with a clear impression of tropical fruits and meaty grill smoke.  The flavor profile was just not quite to my taste and I do not recall another Ardmore with quite as much spice, which I assume to be the product of the French Oak barrique.

Overall, not a horrible dram with a lovely buttery-creamy texture, but with a flavor profile whose parts contrasted and competed rather than working together.