Another month – another Ardmore. September’s is a 10 year old drawn from a refill ex-bourbon barrel.
Nose: Savoury and quite smoky. Liquid tar, bitumen and burnt out engines sit with smouldering leaves, melted rubber and felt roofing. There’s a sweetness here – partly from smoked, fatty meats – party from the underlying fruitiness of the distillate. Reduction adds an alluvial aspect with clay and putty joined by damp moss and bracken.
Taste: Much ashier now – burnt ends, hearth fires and coal dust alongside beef gravy, hot cracked soil and tree bark. Lemon zest joins chilli peppers whilst sugar-coated lime is rimmed around a margarita glass. Water adds coastalness (strangely) with cracked rocks, granite outcropping and a twist of salty seasoning.
Finish: Medium to long and packed full of ash – fireplaces, spent beach fire and quartz minerality.
I’ve always got time for the Society’s 66s and this month’s is a near perfect example of Ardmore’s characterful inland, vegetal peat style. It’s highly savoury, wonderfully balanced, and when reduced, packed full of chiselled coastalness. Great stuff. Joint pick of the month.
Score: 87/100