Ardmore Traditional Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

A quarter cask holds around 125 litres, a quarter of a sherry butt. A smaller cask means more wood contact per drop, and the whisky matures faster. In the nineteenth century it was the standard size, because casks had to be carried on horseback.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore Traditional Cask is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in traditional oak casks and finished in Quarter Casks, bottled at 46%. It is the distillery’s own release and one of the few official Ardmore bottles on the market.

Ardmore is one of the few Highland distilleries where peat smoke is the core style rather than a side project. The smoke comes from peat burned during the malting of the barley, and because the peat is from inland Aberdeenshire it reads dry and earthy rather than maritime.

The finish in small hand-made quarter casks adds depth and a softness that large casks cannot deliver in the same time. The whisky is bottled at 46% and without chill filtration, which preserves body and mouthfeel.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft and spiced. Peat smoke first, then vanilla and a light sweetness of seaweed and ripe fruit. There is a creamy thread through it all that is the distillery’s signature.

Palate

Creamy and full. Peat, vanilla and sweet fruit open, then a spiced warmth arrives from the quarter cask finish. At 46% the body is good, and the smoke sits as a warm floor rather than a point.

Finish

Medium length. Peat, malt and a lightly spiced oak note that lets go softly.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore Traditional Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Ardmore
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Traditional oak casks and finished in Quarter Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Traditional Cask
EAN no.: 5010019636591

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Creamy · Vanilla · Fruity · Spiced · Soft

Did You Know?

Ardmore was founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher to secure malt for the family blend, Teacher's Highland Cream. For more than a century the distillery was largely invisible to consumers, because nearly all its output went straight into blends. Official bottlings under its own name are therefore a relatively recent thing.

See our full range of Ardmore

Frequently Asked Questions about Ardmore Traditional Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

What is a quarter cask?

A cask of around 125 litres, roughly a quarter of a sherry butt. The smaller volume gives far more wood contact per litre, so the whisky matures faster and picks up more spice and depth in less time.

How peated is Ardmore Traditional Cask?

Moderately. The peat smoke sits as a warm floor beneath the vanilla and fruit rather than dominating. If you are used to Islay this will read as restrained, and if you are new to smoke it is a calm place to begin.

Is it chill filtered?

No. At 46% the filtration can be skipped without risk of haze, and that preserves more body and mouthfeel. The whisky may therefore turn slightly cloudy with water or ice, which is a sign it has not been treated.

Why are there so few official Ardmore bottles?

Because for over a century the distillery produced malt exclusively for blends, above all Teacher's Highland Cream. Most of the Ardmore bottles you find in the trade still come from independent bottlers.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat or with a few drops of water. At 46% there is body enough to take a little dilution, and water can soften the smoke and draw the fruit forward. See our full range of Highland Whisky.

What is the difference between Highland peat and Islay peat?

Islay peat formed in coastal bogs with seaweed and salt water in the layer and gives iodine, tar and brine. Ardmore’s peat comes from inland and gives a drier, earthier and slightly sooty smoke.