Ardmore 1996 BBR & 2002 Hidden Spirits Reviews

Hi everyone,

Do we love Ardmore? Yes, we do.

Why, I hear you ask? Because its good whisky young, its good old. Its peaty and smoky and savoury and buttery and fishy and fruity and everything else you could want from a peaty highlander. Yes, I’m a little biased because I own a barrel of the stuff…

Anywho, these are two expressions that I tried recently, both independent bottlings and both slightly older bottlings. Both pretty expensive but both very good.

What is interesting with the comparison between these two is that the 1996 would have been distilled using direct fired stills, while the 2002 is from steam heated stills (Ardmore converted in 2001).

Ardmore 1996 Berry Bros & Rudd 60.1%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Quite a clean nose, spring onion, caramelised green apple, light smoke wisps, heather, dark chocolate. Darker as it opens up actually with plum sauce and roast duck joining the spring onions. Literally, I could be sitting in a Chinese takeaway waiting for my food!

Water: More savoury and smoky, more green apple.

Taste: Clean arrival, lemon and lime, green apple, that savoury spring onion note again, lovely heather-y spice, burnt heather, a little burnt wood. Great mouthfeel.

Water: Much softer start, green apple, more dry oak and less of the savoury notes. Brighter and fresher.

Finish: More smoke here. Mineral, lemon peel, oily and then dry at the end.

Exclusive for the Old & Rare Show 2018. Love the nose on this, very unique. Preferred it neat.

79/100

 

Ardmore 2002 Hidden Spirits 52.7%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Buttered kippers! Delicious and unique, battered whitebait, fishy to say the least, clean spirit and a little meaty too. Again, Ardmore showing off its insane complexity and unique spirit.

Taste: Clean arrival, soft oils, dry, wood then smoke and peat, salty and malty, builds with plenty of power, a charred BBQ meat note.

Finish: Long length. Amazing here, very oily and viscous, dark malt, some chocolate and ginger.

Bottled 2019 at 17yo. Mid-palate is a tad clean for my tastes, but the nose and finish are stunning. Another awesome whisky from Andrea! Hidden Spirits has, quite rightly, been thrust into the limelight at the moment because Serge of Whiskyfun gave the 26yo Clynelish a huge score but they select some great stuff.

83/100

Thanks for reading!

Updated Distillery Rankings

Scotch Reviews #801-#802

Whisky Network Reviews #953-#954

Network Average: 75.1

Best Score: 94

Worst Score: 12

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as the Global Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and I am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and I am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Linkwood 1993 Berry Bros Review (and something new)

Hi everyone,

Something new is being added. Below my review you’ll find info on a little leaderboard I started. I thought it would be fun and interesting to start displaying this info one each review so you get an idea of where I rate that particular distillery and where its headed (i.e. Up or down in my estimations).

First off we have a Linkwood, by no other virtue than when I put the leaderboard together, Linkwood was quite high up thanks to two good bottlings and I realised I had another review in the achive.

So, I tasted this a while back at the whisky lounge event in Bristol.

 

Linkwood 1993 Berry Bros & Rudd 46%

Colour: Pale Gold

Body: Light

Nose: Cucumber, gin with cucumber slice, light and fragrant, little bit of grass, some perfume.

Taste: Light, waxy, perfumed, loads of wax! Could easily be a Clynelish actually.

Finish: Long length. Long waxy finish.

Distilled 1993, bottled 2013. 20 years old. The cucumber is a bit off-putting on the nose, me not being a fan of cucumber in any form.

73/100

Distillery: Linkwood

Average Score: 77

Distillery Ranking: Joint 24th/65 places

Up/Down: 14>24- Down 10

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #590

Whisky Network Review #698

Network Average: 74.7

Best Score: 93

Worst Score: 12

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and I am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and I am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Longmorn & Auchentoshan 1992 for Swiss Reviews

Hi everyone,

Two more single casks from Berry Bro’s & Rudd today, both from 1992, both exclusive for the Swiss market. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth reiterating that, yes, you probably aren’t going to find these unless you live in Switzerland but Berry Bros might have similar casks that they might end up releasing in your country, so it’s worth reviewing them I think.

I’ve heard good things about older Longmorn (even better things about MUCH older Longmorn) and indie Auchentoshan, so I was looking forward to ending my Swiss tasting with these.

 

Longmorn 1992 Berry Bro’s for Swiss 50.1%
Colour: Gold

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Slightly tropical fruit, mango, dry oak, quite austere but nice. Like an old Springbank without the smoke.

Taste: Juicy, mango, some pineapple, lovely mouthfeel, chalky, some white pepper but very soft.

Finish: Medium/Long length. Soft but keeps going, chalky and tropical.

Bottled 2014 at 22 years old. A nice style. This is only the second Longmorn I’ve had but their stuff seems to have those nice tropical notes you’d get in older Springbank or Laphroaig.

79/100

Auchentoshan 1992 Berry Bro’s for Swiss 52.8%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Ah, off. Burnt rubber like a wall, burning tyres. No getting past it.

Taste: Vanilla and burnt rubber, a bit harsh too, harsh spice.

Finish: Long length. Dry, oak, not as bad.

I was looking forward to a light, delicate Lowland to finish the Swiss tasting and unfortunately, I got this rubber monster. Don’t know how it ever got to this state, was the spirit like that in the first place? I doubt it, perhaps the barrel? Or could be an off bottle?

53/100

Honourable mention needs to go to the 50 year old Madeira I tasted at the dinner after the event. Has to be the best after dinner drink ever. So, bloody good.

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Reviews #510-#511

Whisky Network Reviews #590-#591

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Springbank 1993 BBR Review [Swiss Army Man]

Hi everyone,

Another review today, because I’ve got a tonne to get through and lots of exciting stuff. This one is another Berry Bros & Rudd, a wine company cased in London, that also do some whiskies and rum. This is from their single cask stuff.

On another, completely different note, I’m in Rotterdam for the Whiskybase Gathering, so come say hi if you’re around!

Springbank 1993 BBR 46%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Classically dry, chalky, austere and sooty. Sharp oak, vanilla pod, soft notes but a little sharp abv.

Taste: Soft, dry oak, very chalky, ash, chimeney soot, lacking power.

Finish: Short length. A little sour fruit.

Disappointing. I’m starting to learn that not all of these old Springbanks are great. They can be a little austere and ‘tight’ I would say. Even being from my birth year doesn’t save this one.

Bottled 2015, 21yo for Switzerland.

73/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #505

Whisky Network Review #584

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Glen Garioch 1992 Berry Bros & Rudd for Switzerland Review

Hi everyone,

Off notes are funny things right?

They can come out of nowhere for no reason seemingly. You can get weird notes coming from the spirit, cask or even bottling. Although, in most cases it’s going to be one of the first two. Bruichladdich for instance is known for its lactic, baby sick note. Tobermory is well known on r/Scotch for smelling of butthole. Springbank can be all kinds of funky too. Those examples it tends to be the spirit that you’re getting those notes from.

Sometimes though, you get option two. Where a random cask has picked up something funky and brought it through into the spirit. For me, this was one of those. Luckily, it’s restricted to the nose and luckily this is an exclusive bottling that you aren’t really going to see outside Switzerland.

In any case, I’ve always wanted to try older Glen Garioch (and now I want to try even older Glen Garioch) because the further back you go, reportedly, the peatier it was…

 

Glen Garioch 1992 Berry Bros & Rudd for Switzerland 56%

Colour: Gold

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Cheesy. Weirdly cheesy, like Parmesan cheese. Other than that it's quite austere, slight chalk, slight lemon, slight orange. Just shadows though, can't really pin them down.

Taste: Very soft then oily then chalky and dry, then lovely sharp lemon and orange juice, you really feel the acidity (in a good way). Great development of flavours.

Finish: Long length. Soft oils, good oak, a sooty thing going on. Nice.

Bottled 2015 at 22 years old. Almost like an old Springbank apart from the cheese on the nose. The taste and finish on this are great, just that nose lets it down.

78/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #504

Whisky Network Review #580

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Ardmore 2008 Berry Bros & Rudd Review

Hi everyone,

Ardmore is a distillery I've just started to really discover in its true glory, thanks to the independent bottlers.

This one in particular is young and bottled exclusively for Belgium.

Ardmore 2008 Berry Bros &Rudd for The Nectar 46%

Colour: Straw

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Full of dirty smoke, slightly sulphurous with Parmesan cheese (literally never had that in a whisky before then I get two on the same day!), clean spirit, some malt, slightly earthy.

Taste: Clean arrival, youthful, green apple, then powaaar! big big smoke, very peaty, slightly medicinal, some salty seaweed.

Finish: Medium/Long. Salty and still very peaty.

A bit of a young peat monster this one! Good stuff but still very young, would have loved to have seen it after a few more years.

74/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #418

Whisky Network Review #465

Network Average: 74.8

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 44

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Arran Reviews: 12 Cask Strength, Portwood & 1997 BBR

Hello everyone,

Just a few Arran’s today for your enjoyment: 12 cask strength, the Portwood finish and an IB from a Marsala cask.

Arran, of course, is the only distillery on the Isle of Arran and they are doing rather well since they started in 1993.

Arran 12 Cask Strength 4th Ed. 53.2%

Colour: Gold

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Big, sweet and quite old school. Sweet green apple, lots of pear, cherry, fresh esters, toffee, the oak is definitely there- Dry oak, tannins. Some sherry in the background. Coffee and a little chocolate developing.

Water: More sherry, more coffee, more chocolate, a LOT more cherry, more oak, more tannins. Cherry sweets. Pepper and ginger after a bit.

Taste: Creamy arrival, building intense sweetness with huge apple and pear sweetness, vanilla, honey, dry oak, cherry, tannins into the finish.

Water: More sweetness, cherry, fizzy cherry sweets, oak coming through strong with tannins and drying with chocolate and splintered wood. After a bit the spice really develops with pepper and hot ginger (a bit of heat).

Finish: Medium length. Toffee and then dark chocolate hit.

Water: Longer finish with more oak.

74/100

Arran Port Cask Finish 50%

Colour:Rose

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Malty and spicy. Pastry, strudel and cinnamon, some vanilla. Dark fruit behind- Blueberry.

Water: Opens up with more earthy pastry and more aromatic spice- Coriander.

Taste: Soft arrival, then kicks up with building spices and fruity port with blueberry. Some alcohol.

Water: More spicy with coriander.

Finish: Medium length. Fruit and spice.

72/100

Arran 1997 Berry Brothers & Rudd Single Cask 46%

From a Marsala wine cask (I assume finished), bottled 2013. 16 years old.

Colour: Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Malty and sweet, fruit- apple and pear, then curry! Yes, curry spice- coriander and Masala curry paste. Are we sure it wasn’t a Masala cask? Eh? Oh, forget it.

Taste: Malty, lots of sweet apple, developing grape, spice and coriander.

Finish: Medium length. Spices finish.

73/100

Reviews #177-179

Network Average: 74.4

Best Score: 91

Worst Score: 44

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent