Ardmore 21 Year (1977) 100th Anniversary
Review by: zSolaris
Distillery: Ardmore.
Region: Highland.
Age: 21 year. Distilled in 1977 and bottled in 1999.
ABV: 43.0%.
Price: Part of an advent calendar curated by /u/federalagents, /u/dangerousdoorknob, and myself.
Color: 1.2, Chestnut/Oloroso Sherry.
Nose: Cooked fruits are what come to mind and it specifically reminds me a lot of the pineapple slices I usually bake with ham at the holidays (under a weave of bacon) but without the pork elements. Along with the cooked pineapple is a balsamic vinegar reduction and lacquered wood. Some earthier notes, like dark damp soil notes, also come through. There’s a little bit of strawberry bubblegum and some kind of fresh herb as well.
Palate: This is on the fruitier end of the spectrum but that doesn’t mean it’s something particularly bright. Plums and fruit jelly cup lychee is what comes to mind. Adding a bit of water brings out notes that remind me of amaretto along with something burnt, perhaps herbs that have gotten a little bit too crispy.
Finish: Medium in length. Some of that burnt herbs from the palate along with Fig Newton filling. There is a bit of spice as well at a very well tuned and pleasant amount.
Conclusion: This Ardmore comes from the Allied Distillers era for the distillery, it was one of two bottlings released to commemorate the distillery’s 100th anniversary in 1999. Interestingly, the 12 year old that this was released with seems to have been rated a touch higher than this by some more well known names in the whisky space. I haven’t had any aged Ardmore so I went into this without really knowing what to expect. It is certainly far less peat forward than some its younger cousins are but the nose is a ton of fun. It bounced around between fruity notes and earthier ones making for a really great time to nose. The palate and finish aren’t quite to the same standard, though there are some really nice notes in the fruit jelly cup lychee and plums. All in all, a fun dram and one I am very glad to have had.
Rating: 83
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.
Malt Runners 
