Whisky : Ardmore 20 Year SMWS 66.157 “Eternal bliss!”

Country/Region : Scotland/Highlands

ABV : 59.2%

Cask : Refill Hogshead

Age : 20 Years (Distilled 27 May 1998)

Nose : Ocean brine, antiseptic iodine, turpentine, mineral oil— the nose opens with salt and industrial cleaners.  Beyond lies fruits, smoked toffee, beef jerky, pepper, and tomoe ame rice candy.  Undergirding the profile is a low campfire smoke— almost like a beachside bonfire still smoldering the next morning.

Palate : Campfire washes forward with notable medicinal, antiseptic, and maritime notes.  Medium bodied, there is a lovely complex blend of tropical citrus fruits, pepper, and charred campfire marshmallows.  Sweet, grassy, and smokey the palate builds toward a sugarcane field fire.

Finish :  Lingering cane and char— sweet and sticky.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Dawn Patrol Beach Camp.

Something Better : Eigashima 12 Year Peated (similar campfire/citrus, more berries/brown sugar)

Something Similar : Craigellachie 15Y SMWS 44.110 (similar rice candy/fruit, less smoke, more must)

Something Worse : Glenfiddich Fire & Cane (similar marshmallow/cane fire, less complex/body)

Notes : A beautiful, well-balanced, and complex Ardmore.  Compared to some of the fiery young Ardmore I have reviewed, this was wonderfully complex with subtle layers of flavors that were slowly revealed on the palate.  I really enjoyed the balance between sweet, salty, and smoke as medicinal and campfire notes took center stage.  The lovely backdrop of tropical fruits and burning sugar cane gave real depth to the dram.  This is exactly what I want in a 20 Year Ardmore— all of the classic fruit and grassy cane field fire notes that I adore.  Really a great bottle, something that is quintessentially Ardmore in my mind and an absolute treat.