This is a second Ardmore 1992 by The Whiskyman, after the cask he released last year (Peat fighting man). In case you don’t recognize the motto of this bottling, The Who will be featuring the guitar labels in 2013.

Ardmore 21 yo 1992 ‘See me, drink me’
(49,7%, The Whiskyman 2013, 175 btl.)

Nose: rather clean, it’s a more mineral expression with a bit more wet wool and silver polish than the last one. Nicely soft peat and discreet soot. Oil. Walnuts. None of the slightly tropical notes that we’ve come to expect of the best Ardmores of this period. A soft marzipan note in the distance though. Mouth: more roots, liquorice and minerals again, but it’s way too refined to be called an austere whisky. Wet hay. A little pepper. Something of unripe plums. Lemon and grapefruit. Cold ashes. Some earthy notes as well. Finish: medium long, slightly salty, with a soft grapefruit zestiness.

I like the combination of Ardmore’s minerality and peat with a nice fruitiness, but in this case we’re seeing mostly the mineral side. Not a match for the previous release in my opinion, less special, less complex, but a solid whisky nonetheless. Around € 90.

Score: 87/100