
Ardmore Traditional Cask Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Ardmore · Ardmore Distillery
Ardmore Traditional Cask occupies an unusual space — a Highland whisky that carries honest peat without overwhelming delicacy. It's an accessible entry into peated malts, offering enough complexity to reward close attention while remaining approachable for newcomers to smoke.
Nose
Gentle peat smoke weaves through honeyed malt and green cut grass. A light floral rosewater note emerges as the glass opens, with traces of vanilla and lemon peel beneath the smoke.
Palate
Creamy and medium-bodied, with honey and buttery cereal up front giving way to a measured phenolic earthiness. Mid-palate brings dried fruit and a hint of clove spice, grounded by toasted malt.
Finish
Medium-length, with lingering smoky malt and a whisper of peach sweetness on the close.
- Region
- Highlands
- Cask Type
- Ex-bourbon barrels, quarter cask finish
- Peat Level (PPM)
- 12–14 ppm
- Distillation
- Double pot still distillation
- Maturation
- Aged in ex-bourbon barrels, finished in quarter casks
- Chill-Filtered
- Chill filtered
Food Pairing
Lightly smoked salmon on toasted sourdough with crème fraîche and dill. The gentle smoke of the whisky mirrors the fish, while the honey and malt notes complement the richness of the crème fraîche.
Distilled at Ardmore in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire — one of the few Highland distilleries to routinely use peated barley — and finished in quarter casks to accelerate maturation and amplify oak influence.
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