Today I’m catching up with a long-overdue review of this Ardmore 1998 from Belgian bottler BYOB-C (Bring Your Own Bottle Club). In fact, this is so long overdue that I even drank the last bit of this bottle last weekend. ?
Yup, I was too busy enjoying this Ardmore instead of writing tasting notes. After all, that’s exactly what whisky is all about, isn’t it? Just to enjoy it, preferably with friends! And with those last drops, I also had the time to finally sit down with it and write my tasting notes.
Anyway, this Ardmore is 20 years old and spent its entire life in a bourbon hogshead before being bottled at a strength of 52.2%. Only 69 bottles were available. It’s the third in the Mobsters on Mopeds series and the labels are all very cool! This one is an ode to the Maico Mobil, a vintage scooter from the 1950s and the label even glows in the dark. I love it!
Ardmore 1998 tasting notes:
Nose: a nice layer of smoke accompanied by some fruity notes. Apple compote and ripe pears. Then vanilla and honey. Hints of dried barley and hay. A little bit of barley sugar and coconut in the background. Slightly mineral-like and there’s also a lovely waxy note.
Taste: smoke at first, as in bonfire smoke, mixed with barley sugar. Honey in the background. Vanilla. Red apples and pears. A little bit of hay. Slightly malty and salty. Later also fresh ginger and a touch of pepper.
Finish: long with smoke, spices, apples and pears. A bit salty and a herbal note as well.
A very delicious Ardmore! Fresh, fruity, smoky, malty, salty, herbal, minerals and a waxy note. Oh, and I forgot the spicy notes. I mean… What’s not to like here, it has it all. And it all works perfectly fine together. Damn… I wish I bought two bottles of this one!
