Scotch

Whisky Review: Ardnahoe Inaugural Release 5 Year Old

At the beginning of May, Ardnahoe Distillery finally unveiled its long-awaited first release: the Ardnahoe Inaugural Release 5 Year Old. Let's try it.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Tasting Notes

About:


Appearance:
Golden Sunrise
Nose:
Maritime coastal peat, balanced with sweeter notes of apple, vanilla, shortbread and crème brulee. There’s also an underlying hint of leather.
Palate:
Plenty of sweetness on the palate, sweet peat alongside custard, apple, vanilla, lemon, and ginger. At times, there’s an almost meaty hidden undertone reminding me of honey roasted ham.
Finish:
Long and smoky, with a lasting salted caramel sweetness and a slightly drying oaky note.
Comments:
A well-balanced flavour profile of peat, sweet, and dryness – evidence of the ex-bourbon and sherry cask maturation. The Ardnahoe Inaugural Release is definitely a young whisky (and the 5-Year age statement doesn’t deny this), but very easy drinking. The sweetness conceals the cask strength – you could enjoy a few drams easily. I’m interested to see future releases, and hopefully some more mature age statement bottlings, from Ardnahoe – this distillery is one to watch.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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