Ardmore
2011 - Murray McDavid Benchmark
- 56.7
- 70cl
- Taste: 3
- Speyside
Ardmore Distillery was established in 1898 by Adam Teacher. He was the son of William Teacher, founder of the well-known Teacher’s whisky brand. Situated in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire - strategically positioned to take advantage of the Highland barley and abundance of local peat. Originally built to ensure a steady supply of single malt whisky for the Teacher's blend, which had become very popular, the distillery initially featured two stills, with production...
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Ardmore Distillery was established in 1898 by Adam Teacher. He was the son of William Teacher, founder of the well-known Teacher’s whisky brand. Situated in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire - strategically positioned to take advantage of the Highland barley and abundance of local peat.
Originally built to ensure a steady supply of single malt whisky for the Teacher's blend, which had become very popular, the distillery initially featured two stills, with production focused primarily on supplying whisky for blending.
Over the years, the distillery expanded, increasing the number of stills to four in 1955 and to eight by 1974 to meet growing demand. Ardmore has maintained a strong tradition of using peated malt, which is less common among Highland distilleries, giving its whisky a distinctive smoky character. Today, Suntory Global Spirits operates the distillery.
Established early in 1994, Murray McDavid is a leading Independent Scotch whisky bottler. They use a variety of interesting casks during maturation to produce Inspired Scotch Whisky. Their ranges available include the Benchmark series, Mystery Malts, Cask Craft and select Grain bottlings.
Ardmore 11 year old Benchmark is a UK exclusive single cask bottling limited to 267 bottles. A lightly peated whisky, spent almost three years in a fresh ex-Oloroso Sherry Hogshead, a smaller cask than the more common sherry butt. This whisky is bottled unchillfiltered and natural colour as well as being kept at cask strength, offering the complete range of flavours developed over the course of its maturation.
Official Tasting Notes
Nose - Toasty malt, spicy fruits, sweet smoke.
Palate - Fruitcake, Smokey caramel, oak char.
Finish - Lingering peat, soft toffee, gentle spice.
Originally built to ensure a steady supply of single malt whisky for the Teacher's blend, which had become very popular, the distillery initially featured two stills, with production focused primarily on supplying whisky for blending.
Over the years, the distillery expanded, increasing the number of stills to four in 1955 and to eight by 1974 to meet growing demand. Ardmore has maintained a strong tradition of using peated malt, which is less common among Highland distilleries, giving its whisky a distinctive smoky character. Today, Suntory Global Spirits operates the distillery.
Established early in 1994, Murray McDavid is a leading Independent Scotch whisky bottler. They use a variety of interesting casks during maturation to produce Inspired Scotch Whisky. Their ranges available include the Benchmark series, Mystery Malts, Cask Craft and select Grain bottlings.
Ardmore 11 year old Benchmark is a UK exclusive single cask bottling limited to 267 bottles. A lightly peated whisky, spent almost three years in a fresh ex-Oloroso Sherry Hogshead, a smaller cask than the more common sherry butt. This whisky is bottled unchillfiltered and natural colour as well as being kept at cask strength, offering the complete range of flavours developed over the course of its maturation.
Official Tasting Notes
Nose - Toasty malt, spicy fruits, sweet smoke.
Palate - Fruitcake, Smokey caramel, oak char.
Finish - Lingering peat, soft toffee, gentle spice.
Tasting Rating Guide
1: Light, good for beginners - an aperitif on a summers day, i.e. Glengoyne, Auchentoshan
2: Also good for beginners but with more depth and body - a little stronger than 1, ie. Glenmorangie, Speyburn
3: A dram for everyone, a little more complex so the palate requires a little more experience, i.e. Cragganmore, Macallan
4: A stronger spirit, a big whisky with lots of character and body, excellent after dinner, i.e. Lagavulin, Laphroaig