Ardnahoe Bholsa

Ardnahoe Bholsa

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Orange gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, orange juice, peaches, watermelons, peat, smoke, peanuts, autumn leaves, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange juice, watermelons, coffee, peaches, peat, smoke, germolene, pear drops, autumn leaves. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, orange juice, pears, peat, germolene. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and sweet, the peat is gentle with this one, although still there. It’s a delicious dram. I really enjoy Ardnahoe, it’s a great distillery and is a magical addition to an island that already makes great whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnahoe 5yo Feis Isle 2024

Ardnahoe 5yo Feis Isle 2024

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Pale green gold
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, lemon sweets, sea salt, peat, green tea, fresh cut grass, hints of white grapes. With water, white grapes, magic marker, autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon sweets, white grapes, peat, smoke, green tea, leather, apricot jam, photocopy paper. With water, white grapes, apricot jam, honey, peat. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, autumn leaves, leather, hints of apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Excellent Islay whisky. There’s sweetness underneath the smoke and peat, and also more than a little apricot jamminess. Water brings that fruitiness to the fore, but it doesn’t need very much.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Buttercups
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, driftwood smoke, peat, tobacco leaf, fresh cut grass, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanut butter, peat, driftwood smoke, cloves, chocolate, butter, hints of red grapes. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, leather, peat, peanut butter, honey. 

Comments: 

Smoky and herbal, lots of nutty notes in the background. Cloves make an appearance, but it’s not easy to discern under all that smoke. A complex, layered dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardnahoe 5yo Inaugural Release

Ardnahoe 5yo Inaugural Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Buttercups 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, peat, autumn leaves, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Sea salt, germolene, fresh cut grass, autumn leaves, smoke, lemon zest, yoghurt, hints of dried apricots. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, peat, ginseng, lemon sweets. 

Comments: 

Islay’s newest distillery, and I’m sure that’s not the last time I will type that sentence. It’s very gentle and well integrated, lemony, slightly lactic and a little fruity. The smoke and peat are very gentle. Very promising. 

Verdict:

I like this.