Ardmore 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 11 years old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

Two casks with consecutive numbers, 800999 and 801000, were filled on the same day and emptied on the same day eleven years later. Neighbours the whole way through. They were vatted together into 480 bottles, and it is still single malt.

Please note: This bottle has wear and rust on the cap.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks 800999 and 801000 and bottled at 46%. It was distilled on 6 May 2010 and bottled on 6 August 2021 in Signatory’s Un-Chillfiltered Collection, giving 480 bottles.

Vatting two casks rather than bottling them separately is a deliberate choice. You lose the individuality of a single cask but gain a larger, better balanced release where one cask’s quirks get evened out. As long as all the whisky comes from one distillery, the term Single Malt Whisky still applies.

Here there is no Islay past in the wood and no sherry, only plain bourbon casks. That gives Ardmore’s own peated character and malt sweetness a clear run, and the result is the most straightforward of Signatory’s Ardmore releases in this range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and pale malt first, with dry smoke as a firm undercarriage. There is honey, green apple and a light coconut note from the bourbon wood. Clean and precise with nothing heavy about it.

Palate

Malty and soft. Vanilla and baked apple open, then the smoke arrives as a dry earthy note alongside white pepper. At 46% the body is good, and the balance between sweetness and smoke stays even the whole way.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, vanilla and a dry ash note that lets go cleanly without bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks no. 800999 and 801000
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 6 May 2010
Bottled: 6 August 2021
Number of bottles: 480
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Vanilla · Fruity · Dry · Spiced

Did You Know?

Ardmore’s peat comes from the mainland in Aberdeenshire, not from Islay. Mainland peat is formed from heather, moss and wood rather than seaweed and salt water, so it gives a dry, earthy and almost sooty smoke without iodine or tar. It is the same difference you can taste between a Highland and an Islay without seeing the labels.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardmore 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

Is it still single malt when two casks are mixed?

Yes. The term Single Malt Whisky only requires that all the whisky comes from one distillery and is made from malted barley. The number of casks is irrelevant, because distillery is the operative word in the name.

Why vat two casks instead of bottling them separately?

To get a larger and better balanced release. One cask may have quirks that another evens out. In return you lose the wholly individual expression that is the charm of a true single cask bottling.

What do the consecutive cask numbers mean?

That the two casks were filled one after the other on the same day. In all likelihood they stood side by side in the same warehouse throughout maturation, which makes them very similar from the outset.

How does it compare with the Islay cask releases?

Cleaner and brighter. Without the casks’ Islay past there is only Ardmore’s own peat smoke, and the bourbon wood gives vanilla and fruit rather than salt and iodine. See our full range of Highland Whisky.

Is 46% a good strength for everyday drinking?

Yes, it is arguably the most useful strength there is. There is body enough that the whisky does not read as thin, while it is low enough to drink a glass without having to adjust it with water.

Does the wear on the cap matter?

Not to the contents. Rust and wear on the capsule are purely cosmetic as long as the bottle is closed and the seal intact. It is worth knowing if the bottle is destined for a collection.