The Ardmore The Ardmore Legacy NV 750ml

Just as whisky neophytes have gotten their minds around things like the Scotch tasting maps, where Islay and other whiskies are on the smoky and maritime side and Highland whiskies are soft, smooth and sweet, Ardmore comes along to remind us that production methods trump all other distinctions. Ardmore Scotch Whisky claims to be the only Highland distiller fully peating their malt, and the whisky starts out with aromatics familiar to Islay lovers - a burst of smoke resembling a leaf fire on a windy day. But behind that is pretty caramel and cream softness. On the palate, there’s smoke again and a bit of saltiness to accompany the vanilla sweetness - salted caramels, even. apples and pears emerge near the finish of this full-bodied but not overpowering Scotch, and it finishes with a brisk fruitwood smokiness.