Thompson Brothers Whisky Sample Ardmore 2009 13 Year Old 2023 Release (30ml, 50%)

Thompson Brothers Whisky Sample Ardmore 2009 13 Year Old 2023 Release (30ml, 50%)

This 13-year-old Thompson Brothers whisky sample was distilled in December 2009 and bottled in January 2023 from a single refill ex-bourbon barrel. With only 249 bottles produced, it is a much more concentrated and "singular" look at the distillery than the larger vatting as a single cask bottle.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Remarkably floral and delicate. This Thompson Brothers whisky sample opens with jasmine tea, lily of the valley, and fresh white cotton. This is followed by a lovely bakery sweetness: freshly baked baguette and warm buttered scones. The smoke is barely a whisper here—more like distant woodsmoke or hot stones by a campfire—complemented by a crisp acidity of green cooking apples.

Palate: The arrival is sweet and syrupy. It leads with orange marmalade and peach iced tea, followed by a burst of lemon oil. Mid-palate, the Ardmore "funk" appears as a mix of liquorice (Black Jack chews) and copper coins. The smoke is more impactful on the tongue than the nose, manifesting as charred oak and dry, old leather.

Finish: Long and "mineralic." It leaves a lingering impression of rock salt, menthol, and apple peels. The smoke persists as dying embers, leaving the palate feeling surprisingly clean and "dry," with a final hint of hazelnut.

Why it's special

The Highland Peat "Underdog"

Ardmore is unique because it uses Highland peat, which comes from wood and forest matter, rather than the seaweed and moss peat of Islay.

• The Profile: This bottle is special because it highlights "clean" smoke—think of a woodfire in a forest rather than a hospital on fire.

• The Blenders' Secret: For decades, Ardmore was the "smoky backbone" of Teacher’s Highland Cream. Getting to taste it as a single cask at 50% is like seeing a famous background actor finally get a lead role.