Ardmore 10 Year Old 2014 Monasteria (Whisky Dungeon M��nster)

A 10 year old Ardmore released by Whisky Dungeon M��nster in 2024 under the Monasteria series, distilled in 2014 and bottled at 58.6% natural strength with a Red Wine profile. Whisky Dungeon M��nster is a German independent bottler based in M��nster, with the Monasteria series naming referencing the Roman name for the city. The operation focuses on natural strength single cask and small batch single malt releases. The 2014 vintage falls in the year Beam Inc was acquired by Suntory Holdings to form Beam Suntory, with Ardmore moving into Suntory ownership shortly after distillation. Bottled in 500ml format for the German market.

Filled at 63.5% in 2014, the spirit matured at Kennethmont under the post 2001 steam heating regime in a Red Wine seasoned cask. Ten years brought the strength to 58.6%, with no chill filtration applied at bottling. The peat load at 12 to 14 ppm phenol and the 54 to 55 hour fermentation on Mauri and Kerry yeast both stayed at standard distillery spec.

Red Wine cask maturation drives anthocyanin pigments, tannins and residual wine character through the spirit. The wine compounds read as red berry, plum skin and a faintly resinous structure, with quercetin tannins giving dry grip. Steam era distillate underneath shows apple and pear esters from the Kerry yeast component, with the 12 to 14 ppm peat phenols reading as heather smoke, dry leaf and earthy phenolic at moderate integrated intensity. A long fruited smoky finish closes.