Review by: The Muskox

I feel like I have several different series of whisky reviews I need to write… I’ve got a bunch of mystery samples on hand, and a bunch of K&L Wines picks, and a set of Single Cask Nation samples, and a set of Cooper’s Choice samples, and a set of the Octomore 12s. I could try and get through each of these in one go, I’ve found myself bouncing around between all of these.

Anyways. This is one of those Cooper’s Choice samples, purchased as part of a sample pack a little while ago.

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Distillery: Ardmore.

Bottler: Cooper’s Choice.

Region: Highlands.

ABV: 48.5%, cask strength.

Age: 17 years old. Distilled in 09/2003. Bottled in 2021.

Cask type: Bourbon.

Color: Straw. No colour added, un-chillfiltered.

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Nose: Moderate smoke. Lightly industrial, metal lubricant. Lime slushie, honeydew, yellow apples, some slightly musky fruit note I can’t quite place – muskmelon? Melted butter – buttered popcorn. More vegetal notes of jalapeno, dirt-covered mushrooms, and nori. Smells very much like a meal. Slightly farmy, and some black pepper. More sweet notes of yellow plum, light honey, and basil emerge after a little while. More savoury notes of pork cracklings and chicken fat.

Palate: Medium texture, no heat at all. Smokier on the palate than on the nose. Yellow apples and smoked honey on the arrival. More buttery popcorn, slightly burnt this time. Dirty soot, black garlic oil, tar, bacon fat, rock salt, and cider vinegar. Watermelon rinds and rock dust. A drop of water turns things slightly sweeter and fruitier.

Finish: Medium-short, fairly light, slightly bitter. Mineral – wet slate and rock dust. Seaweed-covered beach rocks. Black pepper crust on a brisket. Earthy. More watermelon rinds. Water brightens up the fruit. A bit of a wintergreen note.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Rocks – it’s what’s for dinner”

Notes: A classic smoky-savoury-mineral Ardmore. I love the nose – it really smells like some kind of barbequed meal. Like, I want to eat this whisky. The relatively low proof is definitely noticeable on the palate, and seems thin compared to the richness of the nose. That dribble of water did help a bit. Ardmore can seem a bit same-y (in bourbon casks), where different bottlings all taste pretty similar, but that base flavour is pretty good.

Final Score: 84.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.