Ardmore 21 Year Old 2002 Cask #288 Oloroso (Global Whisky)

A 21 year old single cask Ardmore released by Global Whisky Limited under the OLO range, distilled in 2002 and matured exclusively in a single Oloroso sherry cask. The OLO range identifies Global Whisky's sherry matured single casks, with the Ardmore release sitting as an early steam era expression from the first full year after the 2001 wash still heating conversion at Kennethmont. 206 bottles for the European market from cask #288, bottled at 53% natural strength.

Filled at 63.5% into a single Oloroso seasoned cask in 2002, the spirit matured in dunnage at Kennethmont through the Allied Distillers, Fortune Brands and early Beam Global ownership periods. Twenty one years brought the strength to 53% naturally, with no chill filtration applied at bottling.

Long Oloroso maturation drives deep sherry character. Polyphenol oxidation builds rancio depth, with melanoidins from the seasoning reading as walnut, fig paste and dark caramelised fruit. Eugenol and vanillin from the seasoned oak give clove and warm baking spice through the finish. Unlike the coal era equivalents, steam era distillate lacks the direct flame Maillard register, giving a cleaner core of apple and pear esters from the Kerry yeast component. The 12 to 14 ppm peat phenols fold into the wood derived intensity as dry leaf, heather smoke and a peat hearth note.