When you say “Islay whisky” to a group of people at a tasting, they already have a preconceived idea of what to expect before they have even nosed it, so trying to surprise them is tricky. This meant choosing an odd cask, a sneaky unpeated whisky, or as I opted for, something new. When we visited Ardnahoe, they hadn’t had enough time to be ready to release any whisky yet, which meant we came away full of excitement but a touch disappointed. When their first few whiskies came out, I knew I had to try them to see if they would live up to our expectations. Needless to say, they did.
This dram is one of three whiskies in their core range and is a good example of Ardnahoe’s house style.
Aroma: Sea spray, bandages, smoky bacon, and cocoa powder.
Taste: If you could distil the feeling of lighting a driftwood fire on a beach, you wouldn’t be far off capturing the flavour of this whisky. It is salty and full of wood smoke, but also rich and sweet, like thick-cut bacon perfectly crisped under the grill. There is a zestiness to it that reminds me of whisky sours, and it has a long, warming, smoky finish.
Real Dram Factor: This whisky is “Islay Peat 101” and is full of all the good things, that makes peat heads like me, loved peat whisky.
You will like this if: you like wooly jumpers, open fires and the great outdoors.
ABV: 50%
Price: £55
Source: Purchased for a whisky tasting.
Buy Online and More Information: https://ardnahoedistillery.com/products/infinite-loch