Distillery: Ardmore
Region: Highland
Age: No age statement
abv: 40%

Ardmore Legacy was introduced in 2014 as a replacement for the Traditional Cask bottling, and continues the all-too-rare tradition of peated Highland malts. It is a mix of 80% peated and 20% unpeated malt and is bottled at 40% abv; 6% lower than its predecessor. Ardmore distillery is located in the east Highlands in Aberdeenshire, not too far from the Speyside. It was founded by William Teacher & Sons in 1898 as a steady supply for their Teacher’s blend, but has thankfully come into its own right as a single malt.

Colour: Pale gold, almost coppery.

Nose: Hints of vanilla, with raisins and marzipan taking centre stage. Breakfast cereal hides the faintest trace of peat bogs.

Palate: Has a silky mouth feel, with notes of honey and roasted almonds developing into creamy toffee. Only then do waves of peat smoke come gently rolling in.

Finish: Rather short, but the aftertaste of peaty malt lingers pleasantly.

Verdict: On the whole an agreeable whisky, albeit without much complexity. Lacks the punch of its Islay counterparts, yet for a peathead like me, a nice warm-up for the smokier stuff.

Score: 
Value for money: 🤩🤩🤩🤩