Ardmore 1996

Name: Ardmore 1996
Brand: Ardmore
SKU: 102030
Rating: 86.75 (331 reviews)

Overall rating: 86.75/100
votes: 331

Whiskybase ID: 102030
Category: Single Malt
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Vintage: 1996
Bottled: 2017
Stated Age: 20 years old
Casktype: 1st Fill Bourbon Casks & Ex-Islay Casks
Strength: 49.3 % Vol.
Size: 700 ml 700 ml
Bottle code: L723657A
Barcode: 5010019638496
Added on: 09 Oct 2017 7:15 pm by Astrid

Average value

€ 115.66

Found 18 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 89.90

	Whiskybase SHOP	€ 105.00

	DrankDozijn.nl	€ 125.00

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Whisky Reviews for Ardmore 1996

73 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 86.75 points

LDB scored this whisky 90 points
25 Sep 2018 9:41 pm
Smoke? Yes, yes, but not in your face, and firstly, the interplay with the fruitiness is superbly balanced and secondly, the alcohol is impressively well integrated, so that you only notice a slight tingle at the tip of the tongue.
Certainly, this malt is not dominated by Islay barrels, even if they are palpable.
Very nicely done!

Nose

Fruity-aromatic smoke, smoldering mossy oak log, interwoven fruit components, apricot dumplings, a little eucalyptus or tea tree oil

Taste

In the mouth completely supple-oily, I would like to go back and forth for hours, but spice: licorice on the campfire with a little pepper, despite spicy but also sweet in the direction of dark forest honey.

Finish

Significantly juicy wood and distant light ashy notes, a Katenschinkenaroma remains long on the tongue, at the same time swing again and again old oranges and lemons over the fence, and again smoked fish to taste, but the reverberation remains harmonious and still long Mundwässernd.
dRambo scored this whisky 89 points
18 Feb 2018 6:07 pm
Want a lot of time in the glass - is getting better - subtle beauty

Nose

sweet oily oak with a hint of smoke, sour, cinnamon, cracked sugar, nutmeg, licorice, mint. oily fat, give me more time in the glass - luscious vanilla

Taste

sweet with pricklendem smoke, sweetness, mint, anise, blossoms, licorice, full-bodied, nutritious, ripe and round without being weak, peppery oak - beautiful complexity - but he scores more with his cultivated intensity than with high complexity

Finish

Citrus, oily, mint, chocolate with nuts
Pollenflug scored this whisky 90 points
19 Nov 2017 10:46 pm
Conclusion and pictures on: https://tomtrinkt.de

Nose

The 20-year-old Ardmore reveals his pleasant and complex profile immediately after pouring. My first impression is dominated by sweet, bright fruits, gentle notes of wood and subtle smoke. More precise: Ripe apples, orange peel, tangerines, figs, hints of exotic fruits (peaches & far away hides a gentle connotation of honeydew melons), vanilla, fresh tobacco leaves, some leather, spicy oak notes and campfire smoke. The alcohol (49.3%) is not noticeable and perfectly integrated.

Taste

Pleasantly oily, almost creamy, the malt wets my entire oral cavity and stimulates salivation. Again, the perfectly integrated alcohol convinced. The sweet, light fruits soon start to crave for the upper edge of the taste, especially with candied candied exotic fruits, figs and tangerines are present again. After a few moments, the "heavy" notes pick up speed: fresh tobacco leaves, leather, various spices, dark chocolate and dry campfire smoke pave the way for the taste in the direction of the finish. Well balanced with an interesting aroma constellation.

Finish

Medium long, powerful and smokier. The sweet, bright fruits give a strong exclamation point at the beginning of the finish, before gradually fading. In the background, a dry, spicy-smoky conglomerate gradually builds up, which sets the tone after a few moments. Spicy oak, leather, campfire smoke and a noticeable dryness on the palate remain.
whiskycuse did not rate this whisky
03 Dec 2017 7:30 pm

Tasting Notes: Nose: It is clear from the start that this is not a trivial standard malt that is interchangeable in its aroma or to be confused with others. And even this typical modern sound of many other whiskys today seems to be missing. Jippiehh, a character drops! And that's it, shows an interesting combination of straw, pepper, malt, mint, lemon balm, yes, also some vanilla (but is the only modern!) And a wonderfully fine peat note, which is clearly present but well integrated. A complex mix of apples, pears, grapefruit and grapes will come in after a while, as well as earthy impressions and nut nougat cream.
Mouth: Powerful, clearly citrusy, again with straw, earth and well integrated smoke. Slightly salty, nutty, rather dry and slender, but intense and elegant. As in the aroma, it is also on the tongue wonderfully unfashionable, almost a little understated, balanced and yet enormously present, with a great mixture of fine smoke, fruit, earthy notes, peppery pungency and subtle vanilla sweetness.
Finish: Dry, but somewhat dull, plant-like and ashen.
Conclusion: I like Ardmore, and so I like this one so much that I have bought a whole box of it to be able to enjoy this drop in the future. Too bad that he drops something in the finish, but until then optimal! Amazingly complex nose! https://whiskycuse.wordpress.com/
whiskyinstitut scored this whisky 88 points
01 Dec 2017 1:18 am
Top PLV

Nose

Islay auf Halbmast, ein wunderschöner Rauch ohne brachial zu sein, Vanille, Zitrusnoten, Sternfrucht, am Ende der Mischgeruch aus Kohlrabi und Vanille, saftige Orangen hinten raus, mineralisch im zwei Schluck

Taste

Kraftvoller und mäßig rauchiger Antritt, viel Zitrusnoten mit Orange, leicht pfeffrig, kalter aschiger Rauch, leichtes Britzeln a la Ahoibrause, später etwas Vanille und dann die Eichenwürze

Finish

Süßer Rauch, Zitrusnoten und Vanille im direkten Zusammenspiel, wärmt schon lange, aber auch nicht zu lange
g00se scored this whisky 88 points
07 Dec 2019 10:44 am
Balanced, always interesting, fruity, slightly smoky. For me the better Talisker 18-yo! I find the alcohol better integrated than with the Talisker. There I had the feeling that he was too strong without water and unfortunately too gentle with water. I think the percentages are just right here. Not too lax, but also not too strong or burning.

I wouldn't recognize it in a blind tasting, although I found a note that reminded me a lot of the Ardmore Legacy. Is that the "distillery character"? Because back then I stamped it as a "bill note". I thought it was the caramel.

I save further tasting notes, most of you should know that. I also trimmed the sample away more than dealing intensively with it. Was just too tasty. However, I am surprised that no sherry barrel should have been used. Especially when you rub a drop on the skin, beautiful cherry / berry notes rise. Delicious. After a short time you can guess the smoke. A big sip and you can also feel the smoke in the mouth and finish.
Delightful part!

88/100 points

Nose

89 89

Taste

89 89

Finish

87 87
EnjoyLife89 scored this whisky 91 points
05 Jul 2019 2:54 pm
Nose

91 91

Fruity, a nice smoke note, but not too dominant. Citrus, vanilla and honey; a bit of malt and a little bit of leather; a hint of nut could be announced in the background

Taste

92 92

Oily, creamy; beautiful oak, the smoke comes slowly (campfire), light leather and light tobacco, with leather being stronger. Slightly sweet, vanilla honey, now joined by a round citrus note.

Finish

90 90

long, tobacco, leather, spices, fruits, vanilla, wow which is multi-faceted, tobacco is more evident here than leather, beautiful, spicy oak. Smoke absorbs nicely and simply does not interfere with anything.
LeChiffre scored this whisky 89 points
06 Jan 2019 6:41 pm
Great, sweet, smoky, complex whisky. The depth only really reveals itself over time.
(Rating: +)

Nose

mild, sweet smoke, orange, vanilla, nutmeg

Taste

stimulates the flow of saliva, tingling heat, smoke, sweetness, orange, spicy oak

Finish

fruity-elegant, dry, ashy smoke
markjedi1 scored this whisky 86 points
31 Dec 2018 3:42 pm

Dark Edge

Ardmore is still a very important malt in the Teacher’s blend, but we are fortunate that it also appears on the market as a single malt, for Ardmore can be quite good. Take this expression, for example. Released in 2017 this malt matured on a combination of bourbon barrels and former Islay casks. I’m sure that will contribute to the peaty character of this Highlander. Is the 49.3% be cask strength, I wonder.

Beautiful sweet nose on banana, liquorice, vanilla custard, oranges, apricots and eucalyptus. I was not expecting this, to be honest. It is a tropical Ardmore. There is hardly a trace of peat, despite the PPM and maturation (partly) on former Islay casks. But is it good? Absolutely yes!

It is more sweet and sour than just sweet on the palate and the smoke also lurks around the corner. Having said that, it is again a very fruity party with summery, almost tropical notes. Grapefruit takes the lead. The alcohol is nicely integrated, by the way. A bit of oak shows some pepper and liquorice, but everything is nicely balanced. Some mint and honey keep it sweet and even offer a dark edge to it.

The finish is medium long on citrus and chocolate, nuts and soft peat smoke. And delicious.

What a brilliant Ardmore. The nose is great, the palate wonderful and the finish is simply grand. Available for 80 to 120 EUR. Recommended!
Calmar scored this whisky 91 points
02 Nov 2018 6:16 am
The beginning was typical of the Aylovsky set, but in development both taste / finish and aroma became much thinner, smoother and deeper, enriched with new tones, smoky-peat notes reduced and turned out to be harmoniously inscribed in the overall picture.

Nose

Restrained, dry, first nose - spicy wood, rotten foliage; then smoke and ash, smoked meats, sweet candy notes, lemon peel, old leather goods.

Taste

Saturated, dense, peat, burnt branches, burnt match heads, spicy oak, a little pepper, nuts, a little burnt sugar, dry medicinal herbs, greatly adds to the development of sweetness, creamy and chocolate tones.

Finish

Spicy, refreshing, sweet-sour on a smoky-peat background with hints of lemon peel and dry minerality of ash, some burnt crackers, coffee, cocoa, bitter chocolate, cinnamon.

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