Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 1

Tasting Notes

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: bright, tarry, and malty with a backbone of soft vanilla; bursting with citrus fruits, has me jonesing for a Mezcalita or a Daiquiri; honeyed with white chocolate and chewy malt; the smoke is clean, but earthy; coastal notes reminiscent of walking on a beach after a storm.   

Palate: sweet, tarry, and malty with firm smoke and a burst of citrus; more Daiquiris and Mezalitas; still tarry, with wet wood smoke, and dry earthy peat; salted caramel, creamed honey, and burnt molasses; late nutty toasted oak.

Finish: long, tarry, and sweet, with ashy smoke and more citrus; rather savoury.

Comment: I love that this is a little on the naked side, no sherry, granting us a nice insight to the distillate; peatheads will love this fresh young Islay malt; surprisingly balanced for its abv and age. 

Producer Tasting Notes

Nose: Intense coastal brine, earthy peat smoke, and rich cacao, with underlying notes of lemon drizzle cake and honey.

Palate: Oily and rich, with strong ash, tarry peat, orchard fruits, salted caramel, and herbal tea notes.

Finish: Long and smoky, with citrus undertones, maritime salt, and vanilla.

Distillery

Much of this write-up is blatantly copied and pasted from a blog post Evan wrote for Day 4 of the 2024 KWM. If you wish to experience a strong sense of déjà vu, you can read that post here.

Ardnahoe is the youngest of 10 currently operating distilleries on Islay to have released whisky. Below are all the currently operating Islay Distilleries as of December 2024, listed based on founding date:

1. Bowmore — 1779
2. Ardbeg — 1815
3. Lagavulin — 1816
4. Laphroaig — 1820
5. Caol Ila – 1846
6. Bunnahabhain — 1880
7. Bruichladdich — 1881
8. Kilchoman — 2005
9. Ardnahoe — 2019
10. Port Ellen – 1825 / 2024

Port Ellen has yet to have whisky releases from its newly (re)built operation, though you can find some of their pre-1983 closure 40+ year old Single Malt Scotch around if you have the money for it… Perhaps the Port Ellen story is one we will get to delve into on a future KWM Not an Advent Calendar Tasting blog post a few years from now.

Not listed, but hopefully soon to be finished construction is Portintruan Distillery. This Islay distillery was expected to begin production in late 2024. Unfortunately, the construction company in charge of the build for this new Islay distillery entered receivership in September 2024 which has put at least a temporary wrench in the works. Hopefully, things will get sorted and back on track for Portintruan soon.

Let's get back to Ardnahoe. The distillery resides on the North East Coast of Islay. It is about a 10-minute drive North from Caol Ila distillery and also the Port Askaig ferry landing. Bunnahabhain distillery is a 5-minute drive away to the North. The Isle of Jura and its famous Paps can be seen from Ardnahoe Distillery on clear-ish days, lying just to the east across the Sound of Islay; the straight of seawater that separates Islay and Jura.

Ardnahoe Distillery is owned by indie bottler Hunter Laing – a company which has an interesting history.

Hunter Laing was founded in 2013 by chairman Stewart Hunter Laing and his sons Andrew and Scott. Hunter Laing came to being from a dividing of assets owned by the company Douglas Laing & Co, which Stewart and his brother Fred Laing Jr. had operated together since Fred Laing Sr. – their father passed away in 1984.

(Stewart Laing (middle) with his sons' Andrew (left) and Scott (right)).

Three years after the split, in 2016, Hunter Laing announced plans for an Islay Distillery. After planning and construction, the company’s Ardnahoe distillery officially opened in 2019.

Stewart Laing wanted to build and shape Ardnahoe around the idea of creating a peaty but fruit-driven whisky style that would age gracefully in both ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, with an eye, especially towards Oloroso Sherry cask aging. To this end, Ardnahoe’s distillation has a few features that set it apart from other Islay distilleries. These include the surprisingly long lyne arms that descend on a very gradual slope, carrying spirit vapour from the pot stills, to the waiting worm tub condensers 24.5 feet (7.47 metres) away.

Does this combination of the longest lyne arms in Scotland plus worm tubs lead to a fruity, meaty whisky? You may just have to buy a bottle of Ardnahoe Single Malt Scotch to find out!