Ardmore 24 Year Old 1997 Cask #901451 (WhiskyNerds)

A 24 year old single cask Ardmore released by Dutch independent bottler WhiskyNerds in 2022, distilled in 1997 and bottled at 49.6%. WhiskyNerds operates as a small bottler with a strong reputation for long aged single casks sourced from established broker networks, and the 901xxx cask number sits in the same series as the G&M held 900xxx casks of the period. The vintage falls inside the late Allied Distillers era, with direct coal firing of the wash stills still in operation. 258 bottles for the Belgian market.

Filled at 63.5% into a single ex Bourbon refill American oak cask in 1997, the spirit matured in dunnage at Kennethmont through the long pre Beam Global window. The wash stills ran on direct coal heating throughout the distillation, producing the heavier oily texture associated with the pre 2001 era. Twenty four years brought the strength to 49.6%, with no chill filtration applied at bottling.

Refill Bourbon at this age develops a quiet oxidative complexity. Cis whisky lactone gives soft coconut and pine, vanillin from oak lignin reads as light vanilla custard, syringaldehyde adds a hint of clove. Coal era furfurals from direct flame distillation carry through as toasted oat and brown sugar. Apple and pear esters from the Kerry yeast component sit at the centre, with inland peat reading as heather smoke, dry leaf and earthy phenolic at moderate intensity. The long 54 to 55 hour fermentation gives a soft lactic creamy edge in the finish.