Ardmore 2009/2022 Adelphi Selection 12 yr FC Whisky Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58,6%

The cask came from Laphroaig on Islay. The whisky came from Ardmore in Aberdeenshire. Two peated houses from opposite ends of Scotland shared the same wood, and the result was 194 bottles, released for the Danish market alone.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2009/2022 Adelphi Selection 12 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a used bourbon cask from Laphroaig and bottled at 58.6% cask strength. Cask 709300 was distilled on 16 December 2009 and bottled on 11 October 2022, giving 194 bottles for FC Whisky in Denmark.

An ex-Laphroaig cask is not neutral. Laphroaig is one of the most heavily peated whiskies in Scotland, and phenols from the previous filling remain in the staves. Put Ardmore’s own peated malt into that cask and you get two kinds of smoke that are not alike: Ardmore’s dry earthy Highland smoke and a saltier, more medicinal undercurrent from Islay.

Adelphi is known for a very strict selection, where only a small fraction of the casks the house tastes make it through. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and salt first, with tar and a suggestion of iodine behind, the Laphroaig inheritance is obvious. Vanilla, honey and toasted malt from the bourbon wood sit underneath.

Palate

Powerful and oily. Smoke and salt open, then honey, vanilla and a dry peppery spice. The 58.6% pushes hard, but there is body enough to carry it. A few drops of water draw out the sweetness and calm the salt.

Finish

Long and dry. Ash, salt and spiced oak, with a final malt sweetness lingering beneath the smoke.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2009/2022 Adelphi Selection 12 Years Old FC Whisky Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58.6%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 58.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used bourbon cask from Laphroaig, cask no. 709300
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 16 December 2009
Bottled: 11 October 2022
Number of bottles: 194
Edition: Adelphi Selection for FC Whisky

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Spiced · Honeyed · Cask Strength · Dry

Investment Potential

Medium. 194 bottles, an ex-Laphroaig cask, cask strength and a release made for one market only. Danish exclusives rarely resurface once they have been drunk, precisely because they were never in wider distribution.

Did You Know?

The cask has travelled an unusual route. It was first filled with bourbon in the United States, then shipped to Islay and filled with Laphroaig, and finally taken to Aberdeenshire to hold Ardmore. Three countries, three contents, and all three can be tasted in the finished whisky if you go looking for them.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardmore 2009/2022 Adelphi Selection 12 Years Old FC Whisky Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58.6%

What does an ex-Laphroaig cask mean?

That the cask held Laphroaig before the Ardmore went in. Laphroaig is heavily peated, and the phenols remain in the wood, so the whisky gains a saltier and more medicinal smoke note on top of its own.

Is it smokier than a standard Ardmore?

Yes. Ardmore itself sits at around 12 to 14 ppm, which is moderate, but the cask’s Islay past lays an extra layer over the top. The result is clearly smokier than an official Ardmore bottling.

What is Adelphi Selection?

Adelphi’s range for single cask releases. The house is known for a very strict selection, where only a small fraction of the casks they taste are approved to carry the name. Adelphi today also owns the Ardnamurchan distillery.

Why only 194 bottles?

Because the whisky comes from one single cask, and liquid has been lost to evaporation across twelve years. The release was also made for the Danish market alone, so the outturn was distributed through a single channel.

How do Highland peat and Islay peat taste together?

The two settle in layers rather than merging. Ardmore’s smoke is dry and earthy, Islay’s is salty and medicinal, and you can follow them separately through the palate. See our full range of Highland Whisky.

Does it need water?

Yes, try it. At 58.6% the smoke and salt are up front, and a few drops of water bring the honey and vanilla to the surface. Add slowly so you do not lose the dry edge.