Ardmore distillery is located in the town of Kennethmont, in the Highland region of Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher, the founder of Teacher's Highland Cream blended Scotch whiskey. The distillery was initially built to supply malt whiskey to the Teacher's blend, but it also produces a single malt whiskey under the name of Ardmore.
Ardmore's original production method was peat-smoked barley to produce a heavily peated whisky, which was unusual for a Highland distillery. This tradition continues today, with Ardmore being one of the few Highland distilleries to produce a peated single malt.
Throughout its history, the distillery has changed hands several times. In the early 1900s, it was owned by William Teacher & Sons and then by Hiram Walker in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the distillery was acquired by Allied Domecq and then by Pernod Ricard in 2005. Today, it is owned by Beam Suntory.
Ardmore has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years, with the most recent taking place in the late 2000s. This included the construction of a new warehouse, an upgraded still room, and a new visitors center.
Ardmore's single malt whisky is highly regarded by whiskey connoisseurs and has won several awards. It is a versatile whiskey that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.
Ardmore Distillery primarily produces a single malt whiskey under the name of Ardmore. This whiskey is known for its peaty and smoky flavor, which is unusual for a Highland whisky, as most Highland whiskies are not peated. The peat used to dry the malted barley is sourced from the nearby hill of Bennachie, which gives the whiskey a unique, earthy character.
The Ardmore Traditional Cask is the distillery's flagship single malt; it is a non-chill filtered and natural color; this whisky is aged for at least 12 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks; it is bottled at 46% ABV and is characterized by notes of peat smoke, honey, and spices.
Ardmore Legacy is a no-age-statement single malt, aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Notes of honey, vanilla, and spice characterize this whiskey.
Ardmore Port Wood Finish is a limited-release single malt finished in port wine casks, giving the whiskey a rich, fruity character with notes of red berries, plums, and a hint of dark chocolate.
Ardmore Tripple Wood is a non-age statement single malt that has been aged in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-port casks; this whiskey has a complex flavor profile with notes of peat smoke, fruit, and spices.
In addition to these regular expressions, Ardmore distillery also releases limited edition and cask strength bottling of their whiskies.
Ardmore Traditional Cask: This is the flagship single malt whisky from Ardmore distillery. Aged for at least 12 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, this whisky is known for its peaty and smoky flavor, which is unusual for a Highland whisky. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is characterized by notes of peat smoke, honey, and spices.
Ardmore Legacy: This is a no-age-statement single malt whisky from Ardmore distillery. It is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and is characterized by honey, vanilla, and spice notes.
Ardmore Port Wood Finish: This is a limited-release single malt whisky from Ardmore distillery finished in port wine casks. This gives the whisky a rich, fruity character with notes of red berries, plums, and a hint of dark chocolate.
Ardmore Tripple Wood: This is a non-age statement single malt whisky from Ardmore distillery that has been aged in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-port casks. This whiskey has a complex flavor profile with notes of peat smoke, fruit, and spices.
Ardmore Distillery Exclusive Bottlings: These are special bottlings of Ardmore's whiskies sold exclusively at the distillery. These bottlings are limited in quantity and are often cask-strength. They offer a unique opportunity to taste rare and exclusive expressions of Ardmore's whisky.
It's worth noting that these are five of the most famous, but Ardmore Distillery also produces other expressions and limited edition releases that are popular among whisky enthusiasts.
One interesting story about Ardmore distillery is related to its founder, Adam Teacher. He was the son of William Teacher, the founder of the famous blended Scotch whiskey, Teacher's Highland Cream. Adam had worked in the family business for many years before deciding to branch out and start his distillery.
In 1898, Adam purchased a piece of land in Kennethmont, a small town in the Highland region of Scotland, and built the Ardmore distillery. The distillery was built to supply malt whiskey to the Teacher's blend, but it also produced a single malt whiskey under the name of Ardmore.
The story goes that when Adam was building the distillery, he encountered a water source problem. The water source he had chosen for the distillery was not providing enough water for the production process. So, he decided to dig a well to find a better water source. After searching for a few days, the well-diggers struck the water, but it was not the kind of water they expected. Instead of fresh water, they found a stream of pure whisky!
Adam was overjoyed and decided to use this water source for the distillery. The whisky stream ran through the heart of the distillery and provided a constant supply of pure, clear water for the production process. This water source, known as the ""Whisky Well,"" is still used today and is considered one of the key ingredients that give Ardmore's whiskey its unique flavor.
This story is a testament to the determination and resourcefulness of Adam Teacher and the Ardmore distillery.
It's also a reminder that sometimes the best things in life are found in unexpected places.
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