The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Alex Southgate
Rating: B
Whisky Sponge’s Ardmore 22 Year Old (from 2000)
(Credit: Decadent Drinks/Whisky Sponge)
I’m having a month of returning to particular whiskies, and this is continuing with a return to the Ardmore Distillery. In this particular case, I am taking on a 22 year old expression bottled back in 2000, bottled by Whisky Sponge. I seem to remember enjoying my last experience with this distillery’s malt, so I’m more than happy to come back for another run.
Ardmore 22 Year old is Edition 69 of the Whiskey Sponge range from indie bottler Decadent Drinks. This single malt was distilled by Ardmore back in 2000, matured and then finished for over two years in first-fill sherry wood before bottling, coming out at a cask strength of 54.2%. The casks used for this expression were sourced from warehouses of Signatory Vintage, an independent bottler well known for selecting the best casks.
The Scotch
This is quite a viscous whisky on the pour, leaving noticeable legs on the side of the glass. Color-wise, this Scotch is a soft honey in hue and very appealing to the eye.
The first scent you get is sticky barbeque paired with creamy toffee. These toffee notes carry and are paired with hints of vanilla and lemon. The finish is smooth chocolate with a decent helping of dried fruit.
To the taste Ardmore 22 Year Old starts with roasted nuts which are joined by a burst of citrus which really livens up the palate. This zippy, zestiness continues through to the finish and is met by a beautiful assortment of mixed herbs. These earthy herbaceous tones are long lasting on the finish and are paired with sticky, oily notes that help that finish to stick around.
This is quite a complex whisky. This is the sort of tipple that you have to think about, in that it doesn’t give its secrets up easily. Relatively often I can get a good idea what a Scotch is going for from the first sip or two. In the case of this particular expression I’m not sure a glass was enough. This is the sort of thing that you really need a bottle of so you can the full benefit over a few well measured glassed.
Personally, I usually prefer lighter, fruitier whiskeys and the heavy herbaceous finish I’m presented with here is really unusual and It’s certainly not something I’m used to. I’d say this is a tasty dram with a slightly more acquired finish that on first try is a little strange, (for me,) but that would definitely be a grower over a period of a few glasses. In conclusion this is an enjoyable drink but not something I’d probably reach for on a whim.
The Price
Ardmore 22 Year Old Whisky Sponge is coming it at about £234.00, making it a fine addition for the collectors amongst you.
