Ardmore 16 Years Old 1997 Small Batch (55.2%, Cadenheads, Bourbon Casks, 552 Bottles, 2013)

• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Ardmore Distillery
• Bottling: Cadenhead Small Batch
• ABV: 55.2%
• Cost: £55 for 70cl
• Score: 85/100

What they say:

Distilled in 1997 and bottled at 16 years old in 2013, this Ardmore was bourbon matured and produced 552 bottle at outturn of 55.2%

What I say:

The Ardmore 16 Years Old Cadenhead Small Batch was bottled at 55.2% ABV and costs around £55 for a 70cl bottle.

Colour:

Very pale gold

Nose:

Vaporous and spirit this had a lot of alcohol burn, with hints of cereal and peat?

Taste:

Cereal, sweet-ish like savoury woodland honey, slightly bitter and sour but crisp and delicate throughout, definite flavour of heathery peat (like highland or speyside)

Finish:

Relatively short, quite refreshing and palate-cleansing

Originally sampled at: Jolly Toper Tasting 10/04/2014 dubbed ‘The French Connection’