Things I Really Drink: Ardmore 19 year old 1992 Single Malts of Scotland, cask 9464

It would be inaccurate to say Ardmore made me the man I am today — I can thank genetics, fear and questionable choices for that — but it did help me understand my palate. My first sips of early '90s Ardmore revealed balances of salt-sweet, fruit-smoke, roots, herbs and stones that I'd never had before. It wasn't quite like seeing a new color, rather I saw existing colors more clearly. And I said, "Oh, this is what I like."

That's why I've sprinkled "Ardmore that" and "Ardmore this" throughout the blog. And since our time is limited, and my taste buds aren't getting any smarter, it's time to start dusting off the good stuff. Like, say, Ardmore.

I opened this bottle of '92 Ardmore in January, then promptly caught Covid. THANK YOU ELIXIR DISTILLERS. But seriously folks, it's dumb luck that any whisky remained for this review.

Distillery: Ardmore

Owner: Beam Suntory
Region: Highlands (Eastern)

Independent Bottler: Elixir Distillers
Range: The Single Malts of Scotland

Age: 19 years old (18 June 1992 - 21 June 2011)

Maturation: bourbon barrel
Cask: 9464

Outturn: 207 bottles

Alcohol by Volume: 49.3%
(from the bottom third of my bottle)

NOTES

Two fronts slowly merge in the nose. Seaweed + apricot meets lychee, fresh strawberries, coal smoke and palo santo smoke. Hints of black walnuts and orange peels linger behind. The fruits take over after 30 minutes, as in-season nectarines arrive.

The palate begins with lemons, salt, coal smoke and chile oil, followed by smoked black walnuts (if that's a thing) and yellow nectarines. Then it shifts gears as big rooty herbal bitterness and stony minerals arrive. The fruits get tangier and muskier with time.

It finishes with gentle smoke, whiffs of the bitter roots, tart and sweet fruits like pineapple, guava and those nectarines.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

This summer, my older daughter, Mathilda, and I happened upon a pile of perfect nectarines. The sweet floral middles (not too juicy) allow just a micron of tartness then whoosh it away. I nearly forget where I am when tucking into sublime nectarines, except when sharing the moment with my daughter. We stand in the kitchen, pigging out and laughing about fruit.

Also, this Ardmore, bottled at the perfect strength, is what I like. See Serge's, Ruben's and Mr. Opinions's reviews as well.

Availability - Sold out years ago, sorry
Pricing - ???
Rating - 90 (maybe higher, I don't know)