Ardmore 2010/2021 Islay Cask Finish Wilson & Morgan 10 years old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%

Italians have had a fondness for Scotch whisky for decades that the Scots themselves have struggled to explain. Wilson & Morgan have been bottling since 1992, and here they have taken a peated Highland and given it a spell in an Islay cask. This is not restraint.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2010/2021 Islay Cask Finish Wilson & Morgan 10 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and finished in an Islay cask, bottled at 48%. Cask 803511 was distilled on 30 June 2010 and bottled on 16 June 2021 in the Barrel Selection Private Cask range.

An Islay finish on a whisky that is already peated is a double dose. Ardmore’s own smoke is dry and earthy from inland peat in Aberdeenshire, while the Islay cask lays salt, seaweed and a medicinal edge over the top. The two kinds of smoke come from different landscapes and behave differently in the glass.

Wilson & Morgan was founded in 1992 and is run by the Venetian Rossi family. Italy has an unusually long tradition of independent whisky bottling, and several of the most respected houses in the trade are Italian.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoke in two layers: first the dry ashy one from Ardmore, then a saltier and more medicinal note from the Islay cask. Vanilla, honey and a light toasted malt sit underneath.

Palate

Dry and smoky from the first sip. Ash and salt open, then malt sweetness and a touch of citrus that keeps the whisky from becoming one-note. At 48% the body is good, and the smoke holds all the way without turning sharp.

Finish

Long and dry. Ash, salt and peppery oak, with a light sweetness sitting beneath the smoke at the close.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2010/2021 Islay Cask Finish Wilson & Morgan 10 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in an Islay cask, cask no. 803511
Distilled: 30 June 2010
Bottled: 16 June 2021
Edition: Barrel Selection Private Cask

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Dry · Malty · Spiced · Vanilla

Did You Know?

Wilson & Morgan has Italian roots, and that is no accident. When Scottish distilleries sold casks off inexpensively in the post-war decades, Italian importers were among the most persistent buyers. That is why many of the most legendary old bottlings carry Italian labels, and why Italian houses still hold a strong position in the trade.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardmore 2010/2021 Islay Cask Finish Wilson & Morgan 10 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%

What is an Islay Cask Finish?

That the whisky is moved from its original cask into one that previously held Islay whisky for a shorter spell before bottling. The cask releases phenols from its earlier contents and thereby lays in an extra layer of smoke.

Does it not get too smoky when the spirit is already peated?

That depends on how long the finish runs. This is not a full maturation but a finish, and Ardmore’s own smoke still sits at the base. The two layers are different enough to be told apart rather than merging.

Who are Wilson & Morgan?

An Italian independent bottler founded in 1992 and run by the Rossi family from Veneto. They buy casks from Scottish distilleries and bottle them under their own name in ranges such as Barrel Selection.

What does Private Cask mean?

That the cask was selected and bottled on its own rather than going into a larger vatting. It is therefore one cask with its own flavour profile, and the outturn is correspondingly limited.

How strong is the smoke compared with a real Islay?

Less strong. Ardmore sits at around 12 to 14 ppm, and the Islay cask adds a layer rather than turning the whisky into an Islay. To compare, see our range of Highland Whisky.

Does it work with food?

Try it with smoked fish, a strong blue cheese or dark chocolate. The smoke and salt work well against fat and salt in the food, and at 48% the whisky has body enough not to disappear.