Replacements are an odd duck. Sometimes we get something better overall, like the main actor in any movie with the Hulk. And sometimes it sucks, like Speed 2: Cruise Control.
Today we have a replacement for Ardmore Traditional Cask, a surprise whisky from 2007 that was peated and aged in quarter casks. Like the Speyside cousin of Laphroaig Quarter Cask, I enjoy it.
Then in 2014, a dark and horrible year (I guess, I was drunk), this cousin was replaced by Ardmore Legacy. And as far as replacements go, there’s pluses and minuses. Note that this idea of being a replacement is now gone, as the Traditional is back.
Pluses: the Legacy is suppose to be older than the younger traditional. Minuses: It’s lower Abv.
So, let’s see how it tastes in general.
Price: N/A
Region: Speyside
Abv: 40%
Colour: Light honey
Nose: Sour wine, smoke, woody, pear, seasoning salt, ketchup & vinegar
Starts off with some off notes, yet this eventually smells like a chip shop. Which could be good or bad, depending on how you see it.
Taste: Smoke, molasses, lemon, fennel, pepper
This is definitely 80% peated malt, as the smoke is the main element. Watery too. Very watery. Quite light. Very light, really, if I’m being honest.
Too bad, really. Almost has a rum flavour to it, and it’s being lost.
Finish: Lime, brown sugar, oak, oily, anise, smoke
Hard to pick the finish apart. It’s short, and has a nice balance of flavours. Probably the best part of the dram.
Conclusion: It’s not a good replacement. Watery, weak, and the nose has this vinegar note you don’t want in a drink. Unless you like drinking vinegar. Which if you are, this may not be the subreddit for you.
Anyway, this is a light, peated, and decent finish Speyside. There’s better whisky out there, so I’d say it’s a pass.
72/100
Scotch review #276, Speyside review #80, Whisky network review #412
Reblogged this on Toronto Whisky Society.
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