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

Ardnahoe Inaugural Release is the first bottling from the Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, a five-year-old single malt matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and bottled at 50% in a 70cl bottle. It is not chill-filtered and has no added colour. The spirit is lightly peated, at 40 ppm, and is made with wooden washbacks and two worm tubs, the only ones on Islay. The distillery was built by the Laing family, and its first cask, number 001, was filled in October 2018. The nose gives shortbread, baked apple and Islay peat smoke. On the palate come vanilla custard, ginger, lemon zest and baked apple in a creamy, spicy texture. The finish is long and smoky, with caramel, spice and gentle sweetness.