31/07/2023 Ardmore

Ardmore 1992/2010 (49.4%, Malts of Scotland, Bourbon Barrel, C#5014, 158b, b#169): nose: the first whiff announces another rustic-as-fook dram, with a fireplace in a mountaineering bothy, twigs ready to be burnt, dry clay floors, and, generally speaking, a welcoming, dry place, when it is cold and damp outside. It is far from all, however, and, underneath all that, careful nosing will pick up candied pineapple cubes and crystallised strawberries, mixed with borderline-charred hazel wood. The earthy note (remember clay floors?) becomes richer, closer to potting soil, and we also find a pinch of soot. Still, strawberries make that fresher and livelier, and they come across as chewy too. In fact, they may be strawberry chewing gum, at this point. Baking frangipane makes a late entrance, sweet, chewy, and almond-y -- or, at least, it promises to be. The second nose sees a few of the same fruits (strawberry, pineapple) fall into a bucket of dry twigs and coal. The deeper one noses, the more fruit and the less coal, merely a sprinkle of charcoal gratings on a fruity yoghurt. Much later on, we have dried sausage (of the light kind, so partly dried only), and light smoke re-appears too. Mouth: almond-bitter in the attack, the palate slowly opens up on the tongue to prolong the beauty of the nose: warm hazel wood, a pinch of soot on a dry clay floor, and swirls of fruity smoke, namely strawberries and candied pineapple cubes. The smoke is bold, softly acrid, and that is very comforting indeed. The fruit in it makes me think of those scents vapers put in their Death sticks, yet it is nowhere near as invading or unpleasant as, say, their strawberry muffin -- oh! no, quite the opposite: here, it is all subtle, balanced, and very much an asset that elevates the already-excellent palate. The second sip raises the power and the bitterness, with heated dried-garlic shavings, and hot almond milk to complement the strawberry, which is now smashed into a creamy, yoghurt-like pulp. Yum! Finish: how I enjoy those naturally-reasonable ABVs! 40%-50% of undiluted joy is my sweet spot; this is no exception. It pets the senses, rather than assaulting them. It feels much less smoky, here, and fruitier instead. More strawberries, stewed, this time, candied pineapple cubes, and dried raspberry slices, rehydrated, and sprinkled with an interesting blend of confectionary sugar and soot. A gentle touch of dusty old wood lingers, as discreet as possible. Here too, subsequent sips turn fruitier, teeming with strawberry. The mouth ends up coated with an oily film, and retro-nasal olfaction reveals a chlorinated-water note, swimming-pool style. We also spot asafoetida, which is a step further than the dried garlic from the palate, perhaps, though firmly in the same direction. This is excellent. On another day, I may score it higher. 8/10