Ardnahoe is likely one of the new distilleries on Islay, opened in 2019 by impartial bottler Hunter Laing. Kudos for being so affected person, ready greater than 5 years earlier than releasing a product. At all times a great signal, though you want different earnings streams to make this potential after all. The truth is they initially deliberate to attend even longer, however the spirit turned out nicely and was prepared sooner.
Their first accessible whisky is Ardnahoe Inaugural Launch, a mixture of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks.
Ardnahoe Inaugural launch 5 yo (50%, OB 2024, bourbon + sherry casks)
Nostril: first a whiff of mezcal-like smoke. Sooty notes, just a little molten plastic and smouldering herbs. Then some apple peelings and orange peels, backed bananas and delicate custard notes within the background. Mild fatty notes and loads of honeyed heat. Black pepper and charred logs. Tomato vines and grass.
Mouth: fairly darkish and sooty once more, with a pleasant oily mouthfeel. Campfire smoke and cinnamon, adopted by apple sweetness, burnt pineapple and darkish chocolate. Then vanilla custard, some barbecued meat and inexperienced pepper. Barbecued seafood too. Heavier than Caol Ila for positive, nearer to Ardbeg I’d say. In any case fairly spectacular for a 5 year-old.
End: lengthy, drier now, extra on natural notes and iodine, with smoked biscuits and a delicate citrus notice.
A reasonably traditional South shore fashion, rather well made, very assured and never too younger. It virtually appears as in the event that they re-tasted their very own bottlings of Port Ellen, Ardbeg and Lagavulin earlier than drawing the blueprints for this spirit. Nonetheless accessible, test The Whisky Store as an example.
After the inaugural launch, Ardnahoe Infinite Loch is the primary core vary expression. The cask sorts are related – maybe extra energetic since they’re explicitely mentioning first-fill casks. The whisky could also be a bit youthful too, simply to verify shares are large enough.
Ardnahoe Infinite Loch (50%, OB 2024, first-fill bourbon + first-fill Oloroso casks)
Nostril: a lot cleaner. Sweeter and extra refined. There’s a minty layer, yellow orchard fruit and only a gentle trace of bonfire smoke. Then oysters and chalky notes, a touch of seaweed and seaspray, lemon peels, black peppercorns and a wee trace of rubber.
Mouth: extra intense now. Medicinal smoke, minerals, ashy notes and iodine. Additionally a biscuity notice, loads of malty notes and citrus. Candy vanilla. Hints of leather-based over time, in addition to a deeper sooty smokiness. Some natural and salty echoes within the distance.
End: medium size, with a touch of chocolate alongside bonfire smoke and a pinch of salt.
Thinner than the primary launch, so this one comes nearer to Caol Ila, in my view. It feels rather less mature too. Total although, for a primary take a look at the core vary, that is very promising. Obtainable from The Whisky Trade or Royal Mile Whiskies as an example. Rating: 85/100
