Ardmore 2014/2026 Woodrows of Edinburgh 11 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 60,2%

There's a quiet confidence about a bonded warehouse in Leith. For centuries, Edinburgh's merchants bought, blended and sold on whisky from across Scotland here, long before single malt meant anything to ordinary drinkers. Woodrow's of Edinburgh found a cask they couldn't bear to pass on. It came from Ardmore – the distillery that spent over a hundred years hiding its peated character inside someone else's blend.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 11 Year Old Woodrow's of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a 1st fill bourbon barrel and bottled at cask strength, 60.2%.

Distilled on 4 December 2014 and bottled on 15 April 2026, the cask yielded 229 bottles in total. Ardmore was founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher to secure malt for the family's blend, Teacher's Highland Cream, and for decades the distillery stayed almost anonymous outside the trade – a workhorse whisky with someone else's name on the label. It wasn't until around 2007 that Ardmore began marketing itself seriously as a single malt. What sets it apart is the smoke: while most Highland distilleries moved to unpeated malt long ago, Ardmore still insists on locally cut peat from around Kennethmont. The smoke is softer and spicier than Islay's, but it's there, vintage after vintage.

Woodrow's of Edinburgh started out in 2020 as cask traders, run by brothers Mark and Chris Watt. They bought and sold casks on to other bottlers, but naturally tasted along the way – and some casks turned out too good to let go. Those become Warehouse Reserve, always bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. This particular 1st fill bourbon barrel has left the Ardmore with a layer of white chocolate, vanilla and light tropical sweetness sitting on top of the earthy smoke from the malt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky and slightly earthy, with citrus peel, forest floor, cedarwood and a hint of rose petal.

Palate

Creamy in texture with a light tannic grip. Orange zest and dark chocolate sit alongside old leather, a touch of tropical fruit and a lingering, earthy smoke underneath.

Finish

Long and aromatic, with lemon zest, cardamom and cinnamon that stay for a while.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 11 Year Old Woodrow's of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 Years
ABV: 60.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: 1st fill bourbon barrel
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2026
Number of Bottles: 229
Edition: Warehouse Reserve
EAN no.: 5060769810765

Flavour Profile

Peated · Citrus · Spiced · Creamy · Earthy

Did You Know?

Ardmore was one of the last distilleries in Scotland to fire its stills with coal – right up until 2001. When it finally switched to steam, the distillery spent months designing new steam coils with built-in kinks to replicate the hot spots the coal fires had created, so the character of the spirit wouldn't change.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardmore 11 Year Old Woodrow's of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve

What makes this Ardmore from Woodrow's of Edinburgh special?

It's a single cask bottling from one 1st fill bourbon barrel, bottled at full cask strength, 60.2%, with no chill filtration or added colour. The cask yielded just 229 bottles in total.

How does a peated Ardmore compare to an Islay whisky?

The smoke is softer and more earthy than Islay's maritime, medicinal peat. Ardmore's local peat gives a sweeter, spicier smoke, which here plays against citrus, chocolate and leather from the bourbon cask.

Should Ardmore 11 Year Old be served with ice or neat?

Try it neat or with a few drops of water first. At 60.2%, a little water opens up the citrus and chocolate notes without washing away the smoke, while ice mutes both the sweetness and the smoke more than most peated whiskies can handle.

Who is Woodrow's of Edinburgh?

An independent bottler based in Leith, Edinburgh, founded in 2020 by brothers Mark and Chris Watt. They started out as cask traders and now bottle selected casks under the name Warehouse Reserve – always at cask strength, non-chill filtered and with natural colour.

Why is Ardmore unusual among Highland distilleries?

Most Highland distilleries moved away from peated malt decades ago, but Ardmore stuck with it. The distillery even fired its stills with coal right up until 2001, long after most others had switched to steam.

Does Ardmore 11 Year Old pair well with food?

The soft smoke and chocolate sweetness work well with dark chocolate or a mature cheese with a bit of bite – flavours that can match the smoke without disappearing into it.

Is Ardmore 11 Year Old worth collecting?

It's a tightly limited single cask release of just 229 bottles from a young but well-regarded bottler, so it can easily appeal to collectors without needing an established Ardmore collection already.