Ardmore 21 Year Old 1997 Cask #901456 (Whisky Doris)

A 21 year old single cask Ardmore released by German indie Whisky Doris in 2019 as part of the Art Nouveau Collection. Cask #901456 sits in the same 901xxx series as the WhiskyNerds (#901451), Single Cask Nation (#901310) and G&M Connoisseurs Choice (#900663) releases of 1997 Ardmore, all drawn from the same Allied era warehouse run. The Doris operation has been a steady source of small outturn German market bottlings since the early 2000s. 180 bottles for Europe.

Distilled in 1997 from peated Aberdeenshire malt, the spirit was filled at 63.5% into a single ex Bourbon refill American oak cask and matured in dunnage at Kennethmont under the wash stills' direct coal heating regime. The Ardmore phenol level at 12 to 14 ppm and the 54 to 55 hour fermentation on Mauri and Kerry yeast both stayed at standard distillery spec. Twenty one years brought the strength to 49.4%, with no chill filtration applied.

Refill Bourbon at this maturity gives a quiet oak influence. Cis whisky lactone reads as soft coconut and pine, vanillin from oak lignin shows as light custard. 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 showing as heather smoke and earthy phenolic at integrated intensity. A soft lactic creaminess closes the finish.