The Thompson Bros have loads happening, however we predict their impartial bottling enterprise continues to be probably the most distinguished half. I used to be in a position to decide up a pattern set with a number of 2024 releases.
We begin with an Aultmore 14 Years. This combines two 2008 rye barrels with a 3rd of a 2009 Oloroso seasoned octave (the remainder of which is bottled for Dornoch Fort). Subsequent up: two 25+ yr outdated whiskies from Inchgower and Ardmore.
Aultmore 14 yo 2008+2009 (48,5%, Thompson Bros 2024, first fill rye barrel + Oloroso octave)
Nostril: an attention-grabbing steadiness of spice and sherry. Brown bread, leathery notes, together with loads of nutty notes. Walnuts, hazelnuts. Vegetal oils. Then some inexperienced olives, nougat and orange peels. Somewhat savoury with a reasonably light-weight profile.
Mouth: extra spice now. White pepper (evolving in the direction of chilli), hints of nutmeg and ginger. Orange peels return, with roasted pumpkin bread, almonds and hints of marmelade. A touch of spiced honey. Then additionally a winey edge, maybe the mixture of spice and sherry that offers it a tannic impression. Hardly any fruits.
End: spicy, with hay and a touch of milk chocolate. Medium size.
A reasonably savoury fashion of sherry, extra in the direction of Amontillado than Oloroso. The shortage of fruits and the rye affect make this a fairly unusual whisky.
Inchgower 27 yo 1997 (52,3%, Thompson Bros 2024, refill hogsheads, 406 btl.)
Nostril: a spirit-driven Speyside fashion, pretty brilliant, with good fruits (pineapple, peach, stewed rhubarb), some floral honey, vanilla and hints of buttery baked items. Gentle toffee notes, dried grasses, a little bit of cornflake sweetness even. Then some salted almond and nutmeg as properly.
Mouth: fruits once more, creamy and evenly unique. There’s pineapple, tangerine and mango. Then barley sugars, nonetheless some cornflakes, candy almonds and cashews. Nonetheless some grassy hints. Mid-palate a bit baking spice comes out, like ginger and nutmeg.
End: fairly lengthy, with lingering fruits (mango and orange), creamy custard and an sudden salty edge.
A really stable and really charming Inchgower. The creamy fruitiness is the spotlight right here, with added complexity from savoury parts and a pinch of salt. Nonetheless out there from The Whisky Alternate or Royal Mile Whiskies as an example. Rating: 89/100
Ardmore 25 yo 1998+1999 (48,9%, Thompson Bros 2024, refill hogsheads, 463 btl.)
Nostril: the acquainted sooty smoke and charcoal notes, together with apricots, orange peels and lemons, the standard chalk and hints of moist pebblestones. Traditional mature Ardmore. Then hints of burlap and leaves, with a touch of unripe mango after some time.
Mouth: a pleasant fruity ingredient once more, displaying inexperienced banana and gooseberry. Then natural notes (thyme), gorse and chalky notes, together with some medicinal touches. Hints of aspirin and paraffin. Some phenolic notes as properly, chilly ashes.
End: Medium to lengthy, nonetheless mineral and ashy, with refined hints of salted fruits.
At all times refined and nice, these outdated Ardmores. A few of them have extra fruits than this cask, however general a fantastic dram. Additionally out there from The Whisky Alternate or instantly from Thompson Bros. Rating: 89/100
