Ardnahoe – 5 Year Old Inaugural Release (70cl, 50%)

The Inaugural Release is the first single malt Ardnahoe put out under its own name. The distillery on Islay was founded by Stewart Laing and his sons Andrew and Scott, and began distilling in October 2018. The whisky spent five years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It joins strong Islay peat smoke with apple and pastry notes, and is bottled at 50% in a 70cl bottle, non-chill-filtered and with natural colour. The nose offers buttery shortbread and baked apple alongside strong peat smoke. On the palate it recalls creamy custard, with ginger, lemon zest and more baked apple. The finish is long and smoky.