Review #130-131: Ardmore 12 Portmore and Ardmore 8 year Creative Whisky Red wine finish

Ardmore Portwood

Highland - 12- NCF- E150- Sample ($60 at whiskysite.nl) - 46%

Color - Russet

Nose - Peat, strawberry, vanilla, - The peat is chemically but I can't place it

Palate - Berries, malt, tobacco

Finish - Medium - Strawberry, smoke, cigar box - sweet fruit finish

Overall - 6 - To me peat and red wine finish is like grilled cheese and tomato soup. I feel like that wine fruit just takes control of this and overwhelms the peat, the opposite of my standard critique. It is very drinkable and enjoyable but I don't think I would buy this unless it was on sale.

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Ardmore 8 year Creative Whisky Co cask AM009 (red wine matured)

Highland - 8 - NCF- NCA - Sample ($80 at the local if I had to guess) - 50%

Color - Rose wine

Nose - Cherry, hints of smoke, malt, banana, peaches - all fruit and barely a touch of peat

Palate - Cherry, strawberry, malt

Finish - - Clouds of smoke, burgundy wine, banana

Overall - 6 - Once again, the peat seems overwhelmed by the wine finish. Ardmore is more of a subtle peat than Islay, Longrow or Ballenchin. I believe that this allows for the red wine to overwhelm the peat in these expressions. This is enjoyable and a red wine fruit bomb but not the best marrying I would expect with peat. Having done the these side-by-side, I would say the Creative Whisky company is materially better.

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.90

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16