Ardmore Traditional Cask

Bill Dowd photo

This Highland malt whisky was introduced in the U.K. and duty free shops just last year, and this month went on sale in limited quantities in the U.S. It comes from the same company that has made Teacher's blended Scotch whisky for more than a century.

• Ardmore Traditional Cask

This beautiful deep golden whisky has a full nose, but is not overwhelming. If anything, it doesn't completely telegraph the rich, peaty flavor that initially hits the tongue. A bit of vanilla and caramel comes through, a legacy of the whisky's initial maturation in used American white oak bourbon barrels.

A splash of water tames the smokiness and further opens the flavor palette to reveal some spice notes from the second maturation in quarter casks (110 liter), a little more caramel and a very gentle mix of vanilla and peat. On the nose, the dry, earthiness of the smoke comes through to marry all the flavors.

I highly recommend this fine visitor from Aberdeenshire.

Retails in the $45-$50 range.

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