Ardnahoe 05-year-old

It has a fairly high viscosity and its bouquet is of relatively high intensity. I have aromas of pleasant maritime peat smoke, citrus fruits, vanilla, leather, pipe tobacco, shortbread, apples and creme brulee. Quite complex for its young age. A good balance between sweetness and dryness in terms of taste. The alcohol is well integrated and it has a heavy body.

I was a sceptic as to whether Isalay needed another distillery, but this has it's own style which shows there is still life left in the Isle. Well worth trying - could easily get through a bottoe of this.

Good start for a new Islay distillery. Will definetly look up to future releases!

Yes, it's young, but it already has a lot to say, thanks to a skilful use of casks which, if the ex-Sherry ones win on points, knows how to integrate the ex-Bourbon influences with good balance. For a debut, it's already very convincing, and given the premises it can only improve with time.

A really nice start. Considering it has only been aged for five years, it is remarkably balanced. This seems to have produced a very exemplary raw spirit. The youth still shines through in this bottling, but I am really looking forward to what we can expect here in the coming years.

A fairly fine, clear, iodized, ethereal, fresh, maritime smoky peat, hints of bourbonne, mirabelle plums and lychee, chasselas grapes. After a while, it becomes rather citrusy, but without acidity, with a very slight salty minerality. Pineapple, kumquat, but also some astringent notes, wet dog, fish scales, limestone, so that it is not too smooth. Sweet and peppery palate, rose liqueur, hint of lemon, a good dose of peat and spices, a touch of woody bitterness. This bitterness becomes creamier in the finish, like an asparagus confit, prickly pears, shrimp chips, it is powerful, even a little too aggressive. On the other hand, it is very long, young wood, raw chestnut, granola, maple syrup, cola. It's really very well done for a 5 year old, I wouldn't have flinched if someone had told me it was twice as old. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2024/07/ardnahoe-inaugural-release-5-yo.html

A very interesting debut with nice smoky notes and manageable young complexity. Something is growing here and we can look forward to further developments.

For a newcomer, it is already surprisingly complex and there is still a lot to be expected in the future. Definitely an enrichment for the Islay troupe. We can look forward to the next bottlings.

On the nose dirty and industrial peat, earthy, salty like seaweed. In taste smoky, hot and peppery, temperamental. Some citrus, hay. Finish medium, earthy and salty, some oak, still feeling "industrial".

Too young, too immature,…..yet. Give it another 5 to 10 years and I reckon it will be a great dram!

Nose: Sweet, vanilla, malt, light smoke, cherry, orange, some oak, some mineral ••• Taste: Sweet, spicy, oak, smoke, mineral, cherry, malt, vanilla ••• Finish: Medium-long, sweet malt, mineral smoke with a hint of cherry and vanilla. ••• Conclusion: The nose starts with sweet vanilla and lightly toasted malt with smoke. Then comes some cherry and some orange. Mineral notes and a note that reminds me of tea are also there. Oak plays a subordinate role. The taste starts spicy and sweet. Oak and mineral smoke come directly after. There is also cherry and malt with some vanilla. A nice whisky. Still a bit stormy at times. But quite good for its age. I think we can look forward to older bottlings. ••• 86

I really like the first bottling of Ardnahoe, which is 5 years old and 50% ABV. You don't notice that it is only 5 years old and you don't notice that it has 50% ABV either. The aromas create a good overall picture and the whisky does nothing wrong from the nose to the finish. We can certainly look forward to further, hopefully older bottlings.

A typical Ayla. Lemony, slightly fruity malt. Quite dry, a little dusty. Purely from memory, without nose-to-nose comparisons, I would say that it is closer to Port Charlotte. Let's see what will happen next)))

Unadulterated peat smoke, coastal, seaweed, old copper coins, menthol, oily and heavy mouthfeel, dill, and cucumber peel. Black Pepper, Ginger. Earthy, and spicy character with a dry finish. Shows strong craftsmanship, heavy and non-spirity despite its young age, delivering a bold and rustic style that works very well

New Distilleries, 12Feb2025: The Hearach First Release https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/239805/the-hearach-first-release 83- Strathearn Inaugural Bottling https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/251209/strathearn-inaugural-bottling 82+ Ballindalloch 2015 Vintage Release https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/251306/ballindalloch-2015 82+ Ardnahoe 5yo INaugural Release https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/258513/ardnahoe-05-year-old 84+ Ardnamurchan 5yo 2018 - Dramtime https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/260941/ardnamurchan-2018-ad-1118-ck1973 80+

A gust of maritime brine and drying kelp tickled the senses until more meaty barbecue arrived— salmon on cedar wood planks and a bit of pork belly with gochujang. The smoke was sweet, but also acrid with burnt sugars and wood drifting over dried grass, tar, creosote, and a hint of medicinal herbs. Medium-bodied and oily on the palate, the flavor profile offered plenty of creosote and fresh asphalt paving before charred wood and burnt meaty fats arrived. Gristle and burnt ends led to slightly acrid burnt sugars and eventually a cleansing briny citrus. Hints of mint and medicinal herbs at the end as coastal brine and charred vegetation lingered on a medium-length finish. Well, how about that for an introduction! I had been hoping to try something from Ardnahoe, and I am glad that our little online whisky group’s mystery tasting calendar provided the opportunity. I cannot wait to see how Ardnahoe’s malt turns out with a bit more age— this was feisty and phenolic, as you might expect from something so young. The flavor profile that sat somewhere between modern 2000s Laphroaig and 1990s Ardbeg as it incorporated plenty of familiar barbecue, asphalt, and maritime notes, but in a more restrained package. Overall, delightful stuff— I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Nose: Smoke, a touch of cold smoke (from the alcohol's freshness) with lingering embers, malty sweetness, light mineral notes, a hint of vanilla, wet bark mulch, a very slight touch of sweet paprika or a BBQ rub, perhaps a small squeeze of lime juice Taste: Strong start, the alcohol pushes forward, initially pronounced smoke, sweetness joins in, it becomes creamy, notes of vanilla and wood, burnt aromas, very slight salted caramel, some sweet citrus aromas, hint of honey in the smoke Finish: medium-long, the creamy malty sweetness, smoke and pleasant wood notes linger. Conclusion: a successful debut from Ardnahoe. For its age, the whisky offers a beautifully mature product with intense smoky aromas, which still leave some room for the other facets of the whisky to shine through.

Aroma：Moderate；Palate：86/100; Aftertaste：Medium.

A good start for the new distillery on Islay. The sherry is nicely woven in. In a blind tasting, this dram would easily pass as a 10-year-old. One can look forward to the next bottlings... Good value for money, which is not common on Islay these days.

I was waiting for it for a long time and I was really looking forward to it. She got to me by a rather winding path, but she finally succeeded. I have to say that, to my great surprise, it is a very successful whisky for the first time, and if the Ardnahoe brand continues on this path, we will be great friends. The whisky is uncolored and not cold filtered. It's like a very successful mixture of several Islay whiskys, the best from the brands Caol ila, Bowmore, Kilchoman, maybe Lagavulin, and I can definitely smell iodine from Laphy in it... It's properly smoky, but also herbal, iodine, paherb, but also spicy , creamy and caramelly sweet. It does not deny its youth, but it is pleasantly drinkable, although I would recommend more than 50% ABV. You managed to make such a good whisky for the first time! Well done Mr. Stewart Laing!

Ardnahoe Inaugural Release, SMSW, 50%. 30ml sample Aug 2024. Took me a while to procure a sample of this – it feels like it’s getting harder to get samples of whiskies I want to try generally. Dull pale amber. Aroma has burnt apple pie, plasticky waxed green apples but also thick-skinned russet apples, cream crackers with tropical chutney. Not smoky as such. There’s a rusty vibe behind the orchard fruit. Slowly, slowly builds a caramel chocolate dimension. Body is moderately oily. Taste is quite different to the aroma. Low impact up front with a light sherried creaminess. The impressions of smoke are much more apparent than on the aroma, particularly on the finish. The apple fruitiness is very recessive – just shows up from time to time as a slightly acrid note. There’s a soft biscuity oak. The finish is simple, smoky and of decent length. Clearly I am late to the party here and am not the first to say it but this is an impressive first release. Good spirit quality and mature beyond its five years. This is my first whisky of the evening and yet this 50% whisky is so rounded and easy on the palate, with no ‘burn’. I will certainly be seeking more of Ardnahoe’s output although as yet I can’t quite see them ousting my favourite Islay whiskies from their positions on the shelf. 3.675/88

After a while the whisky really seems to come loose in the bottle. nice combination of smoke and a light edge of rust.

A beautifully balanced whisky with the typical fine Islay note. Fine peat paired with a good sherry note. 50% alcohol makes the whisky a good evening whisky

A strong start for this new distillery. To be able to release something like this with 50% alcohol when it is only five years old is a testament to the craftsmanship involved. A lot of it is right. Great aromas and I am looking forward to later older bottlings. Great.

Cold smoke from a smoldering fire, light chocolate, grapefruit, bacon. A little pear and banana. I like what Ardnahoe is all about.

Tasting notes on www.longpouramour.com Great depth on the nose, with a little more complexity than one could expect if only straightforward bourbon casks were used. Soft, sweet smoke, modest peat but solidly putting a signature on this whisky. Smouldering burned wood sticks, the day after a campfire, lying under a rainy sky. You can also smell the sea in your glass, a breeze coming in over the water, straight in your face while you enjoy the views across the sea to neighbouring Jura. The taste is profoundly sweet, the fruity spirit working well with the sherry casks made of European oak. On the finish, you get a good dose of peat heat. Fantastically balanced. I really love the unexpected fruits in there, even some oranges next to apples, but of course all smoked above a crackling fire. https://longpouramour.com/ardnahoe-5-years/

A great young malt that shows its potential and still seems a bit bold at times. But the fruits are great.

Firmly peated dram, quite young & lively.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good drinkable whisky with very good nose and taste, nice long finish, typical Islay caracter. It is perfectly executed for such a young make (you could easily think it has at least twice its age), with some great help from these Oloroso casks, and hats off for that, but what I am lacking here is identity and style. When you launch a new distillery on an island where the offering is already very crowded you need to come up with a dram that either is bringing something different or has a great value proposition. For the time being it is neither but maybe future releases will prove me wrong and can compete with similarly or lower priced icons like Lagavulin16, Ardbeg Uigeadail or Port Charlotte 10 to name a few.

85.00 blind tasting

N: The feeling is that it does not move from leather, charcoal peat, and fruit to a peat scent, but rather mixes with peat after fruit and changes. No sting. Roasted sweet potatoes? T: Initial intense sweetness. Typical bourbon sweetness and spiciness. Chocolate with high cacao content. I don't know much about sherry notes. A moderate amount of oiliness and fit spreads past the neck. Monotonous taste, appropriate body balance. F: Short. apple. feet. Pulmuone NATO. Light fit feels like caolila 12. The finish is much better than clynelish 14. Welcome to the new pale peat. Delicious.

It smells nice as soon as you unscrew it. A fresh peat note, not really smoke, similar to what I know from Kilchoman. Very subtle, not overwhelming. The taste is more intense, full of strong aromas: wood, peat, spices. Everything is well-rounded and harmonious. A very nice start. It makes you want more…

A well-developed single malt that can hold its own with some Islay's more illustrious names.

Light golden color, thick legs in the glass that flow quite slowly and bubbles that sit for a very good few seconds after pouring. Already a good start. Nose: delicate-pleasant smoke. Something between caol Ila, Bowmore and Ardbeg. Quite a bit of vanilla, maritime smell, delicate caramel, saltiness, cocoa butter/milk cream and white chocolate. Just sweet and salty together. In the mouth: at 50% it's a very drinkable whisky. Comfortable in the mouth and not too kicky. Quite full body, fatty, the smoke is upfront with burnt wood flavors above the caramel and delicate cocoa. A surprisingly long and refreshing finish, the peat and smoke here gained presence. The vanilla and chocolate flavors have disappeared and left with a wonderful burnt aftertaste. A great dram by Ardnahoe that shows completely that they are in a strong, good opening 87/100

Cool. We are waiting for more mature releases.

Really well made. Islay character immediately recognizable. Doesn't taste too young at all.

This is the freshest distillery on the island of Islay. A very tasty product, with a slightly smoky taste, typical for the island.

Tasted on March 15, 2025 at Whisky n More Hattingen.

Traditional Islay peat, nutty smoky quite sharp and youthful harshness. Slight fruity sweet with salty finish. Lovely first release. Impressed. Could have more distinct character to go over 90.As expected from a new distillery quite a bit young and harsh. Has typical Islay character/style but it’s different, peaty vanilla, citrus, sweet notes and tastes a bit like a young Caol Ila. Looking forward to new releases from this distillery. A delicous dram.

Young but still complex

I am late with my review, but it is never too late to celebrate what may be the best inaugural release in recent years. The nose is unmistakably Islay, it is smoky, briny and slightly earthy. Orange zest, unripe peach and seaweed emerge, mingling with boiled tomatoes, peppermint and farmyard notes. Gingery and citric in the arrival, the palate evolves with oak spices, honey and a kick of dry peatiness. It hides its young age well. Licorice, lime and hints of rubber conclude the herbal-fresh finish. Kudos to Ardnahoe, opting for a 5-year-old was the right choice. RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

Not especially distinctive, but definitely tasty I’m looking forward to seeing how Ardnahoe develops in the future.

£70 rrp on release date 10th May 2024. Or 8th May 2024 for subscribers. 70,000 bottles worldwide confirmed by distillery.

Excellent value

tried at Veit on 06.06.2024

Nose and palate ambivalent, multifaceted and profound. Great what they have created here for a five-year-old. At first it reminds me very much of Kilchoman, but the Ardnahoe seems to take it up a notch - 13.07.2024

Waxy, industrial notes, warm notes of honeycomb, caramel and maple syrup. Overall, this is a very good whisky, and overall excellent for its age. Youth and alcohol do not hit the receptors, everything is quite restrained and balanced.

Great quality whisky. I find it earthier than most Islay whiskies. It tends to be more old school, sooty, too. Excellent drinking strength.

Tried at the FoSMB tasting. Citrus, light, sweet smoke, subtle wood spice. Minimal tar notes. Salty/maritime and also slightly industrial/dirty. Finish medium long and dry with pepper, citrus and smoke. The bottling's young age is not revealed during the tasting, I am excited to see what the future brings.

A nice start that makes you want more. The distillate has potential and could become something. I think it has its own profile. I'm excited to see how the journey continues! Peat smoke and campfire, maritime and herbal notes, sweet grain coffee, liquorice and liquorice. The Oloroso barrels also add a few raisins. 86/100 or 6/10

A great first offering from Arnahoe! Fortunate for them in that peated whiskies work very well when they are younger compared to some other youthful expressions that I have tried. Loads of lemon curd and vanilla custard highly enjoyable. For my in-depth video review go here https://youtu.be/Lw3ztxDKV1w

The Ardnahoe 5 Year Old presents itself as a remarkable Islay whisky, offering impressive depth and complexity despite its young age. A promising start for the Ardnahoe distillery.

Simple, no bad taste

Thanks to Slàinte Mhath for the sample. Sweet and fresh, a peated dram suitable for a summer evening.

First tasting

Well, that's it. Not bad. But I want more endurance and roundness. In general, as for young Ayla - good. But I would wait a couple of years

Blindly identified the combination of bourbon barrels and Oloroso. Apparently, because the taste was very reminiscent of Lagavulin 16-YO! It's too early to judge any signature, I would mistake it for Lagavulin blindly! Best inaugural release I've ever tried! 21.5 22 22 21.5

I do not share the enthusiasm with my fellow whisky connoisseurs here. It is just a young, immature Islay whisky. Not much beyond the dirty smoke, basic sweetness, some maltiness, and sharpness - due to the youth. I would suggest to wait another 5-7 years, to see how it will then compare to the other Islay distilleries. Now it is simply to soon to draw any conclusions...

This whisky has a nose with high peat, high alcohol, and oaky notes. The palate also features peat and oak flavors. The finish is peaty and salty, hinting at orange peel bitterness. Amazing for an inaugural release.

Glad to taste this first product of the distillery I've often passed on my way to Bunna. Lovely place, used to serve a great lunch too. One of the better inaugurals, also thanks to the 5 yr maturation. Spicy sweet and nicely peated

Nase gefällt mir ganz gut, leichter Rauch, Leder, Radiergummis, etwas Meeresbrise. Im Mund schöne ölige Konsistenz, leicht zitrisch, Teignoten. Wäre der Alkohol weniger „spitz“, würde es mehr Punkte geben.

I didn't understand the hype on this one. Yes. it's good but nothing outstanding. and rather expensive

Nose: Sweet Peat, hot smoke, honey. Dirty peat on the nose. Salty Mouth: Gentle in the mouth, ash. Good thickness. some spice and bitterness. BBQ seashell. bit salty. Not as vibrant as the nose. Easy and pleasant dram

aroma: flatter, smoke, peat, grilled meat taste: harsh, alcoholic, grain, smoke, peat, spice Young, rough smoke. Almost identical in taste and aroma to Inaugaračka

Golden color. Slight oiliness.

Port Askaig, 29/5/24. Dram drunk at the distillery's Open Day. Amber color. A beautiful start, it looks much more than its 5 years.

This is not a reinvention of Islay whisky, but if you fancy an Islay whisky that really packs a punch, you'll be well served here.

Not bad at all, for the first bottling. Peat is very present, but not overwhelming, rather it harmonizes very well with the other dark aromas (from the Oloroso, slightly nutty). This could be really good in the future. 71-80 – Fine, like to drink by time

Very good start and for 5 years there is nothing to complain about.

In a tasting with maltsinds and broekleddie Timorous beastie Glenrothes 28 Signatory CS Dumbarton 26 Frequent Flyers CS Royal Brackla 2015 W&M CS Ardnamurchen Sauterness cask Meikle Toir Original Ardnahoe 5 Balvenie 15 62.1% Glenallachie 10 Batch 4 CS Glen Garioch 17 Signatory CS Seven Seals of the Age of Capricorn Caol ila 10 Signatory CS Where do we start. The whisky is incredibly hyped which intrigued me to want to drink it. Let's start at the beginning. A 5 year old whisky for €80 is on the high side in my opinion. Whether it is an Inaugural release or not, it is too expensive in my opinion. We have placed the whisky next to the Meikle Toir original. Next to each other the Ardnahoe comes out a bit better in our opinion. Complexity: 85 Intensity: 86 Price quality, on the high side.

malt, citrus, smoke, apple, ginger Tasting: 2024-09-20 Price: 79.90€

A beautiful smoky sherry whisky. It seems complex for that age. It is very drinkable. The finish is slightly spoiled by a slight bitterness.

Smoke dominates in the nose and mouth. At the same time, it is very well integrated. Cigarillo, not peaty. Exciting. You can tell it's young. Very good perspective. The 50% is clearly noticeable, but not unpleasant. Smoke on the finish, very special smoke (not typical for Islay) and relatively long and then long freshly pressed pear at the end. Fruit remains.

2cl Sample

Blind sample. Clearly young and a bit unpolished on the nose, but there’s clearly some dilution on the palate that improves the balance between the distillate and the cask. Almost like a Nordic peated whisky - High coast? Mackmyra? Post reveal - Ardnahoe!? Reflecting on my initial review of this back when it was first released, I’ve tried a lot more young releases from new distilleries, and find there’s a lot more commonality shared by younger whiskies. It’s still a decent one knowing what it is and the price, but on absolute terms, it’s more of a collectible than something I’ll actively sought after.

Clean and nicely balanced

S 8 Sampled as the final dram at a blind tasting. Young and powerful. It depicts a vibrant image of a young southern Islay Scotch. Playing on the safe side but nonetheless a great start. As an inaugural release, this is bottled at a very healthy strength and good price as compared to its peers. I'm excited about their future releases! 81-85 - Nice, I can drink more of this

Young Islay whisky that convinces me especially in the nose; tolerates water One sample is enough for me.

Smell: Strong phenolic smoke, but at the same time pleasantly sweet and fruity, cooked apples, dried fruits, orange and a little lime, behind it roasted almonds, a little cinnamon, mineral and light wood spice. Taste: The taste also has strong smoke and a nice sweetness but only a little fruity, then a peppery sharpness, subtle malt and oat flakes, milk chocolate, some herbs, nice and creamy and dry wood. Finish: Quite short, dry, spicy and the smoke really comes through again. Conclusion: This whisky is not super complex, which is not what you would expect from a 5-year-old. It offers sweet and fruity notes paired with strong smoke and is harmonious in itself. Sure, it's young and a bit wild, does that bother me about Islay smokers? No, definitely not!

First impressions: So, I guess I'll be the first one to say it: it is more similar to Highland peated Scotch than to Islay peated Scotch. It reminds me of Meikle Toir (dirty, earthy and peppery peat) and a little bit of Ichmoan 12 (dirty and industrial peat). But it is true that it is also somewhat similar to Kilchoman (farmy and seaweed peat) and Caol Ila (citrus peat), with a bit of Lagg (weird diesel) and Lagavulin (sweet coastal peat). One way to describe it would be a mix of Meikle Toir Sherry and Kilchoman Sanaig. I love every whisky I mentioned, btw. Second impressions: So, this is actually very nutty and coastal. And a lot of ash and bonfire, and a lot of dirty earthy notes. It is growing on me, not gonna lie. A third of the bottle Combina los elementos más reconocibles del peated whisky de las Highlands e Islay, sin llegar a alcanzar la desmesura que los caracteriza. Por un lado, tenemos el dirty peat de las Highlands, que no llega al nivel del suciedad y aspectos terrosos por los que los peated Highlanders son reconocido como tales, mientras que muestra un nivel de peat por encima de la media, y notas claramente costales y marítimas, sin alcanzar los toques yodados y a marisco por los que es apreciado el whisky de Islay. A medio camino entre ambos mundos, sin duda es un whisky de calidad y realmente bueno, pero se queda corto a la hora de mostrar la personalidad salvaje y única que uno espera de una nueva destilería. Final review: Finally, a new distillery on Islay. Hurrah! Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Lagavulin are in my top 5 favorite distilleries, so the idea of a new distillery offering its original take on this deeply rooted Islay tradition of producing peated and coastal whisky will never stop exciting me. Opened in 2019, they took exactly 5 years to deliver a dazzling 5-year-old whisky. Bottled at 50%, non-chill-filtered, and without added coloring. A stellar debut, in my opinion, only overshadowed by the other two new distilleries, which I find even more interesting: Lagg and Raasay. But focusing on this Ardnahoe 5, what can we expect? On the nose, it’s very balanced. Far from the hubris that characterizes other Islay distilleries, without reaching the elegant complacency of Bunnahabhain. Young, fresh, maritime, sweet, earthy, fruity, tropical, and salty. Immediately, there’s fresh sea breeze. In addition: toffee, dirty and earthy peat, lemons and pears, sweet dates, coastal notes (mineral seashells, roasted seafood, organic seaweed), sweet strawberry, roasted pineapple, industrial notes, and a touch of diesel and lemon. It’s on the palate where it reveals its true colors. Velvety, bold, powerful, complex, and a little wild (and, therefore, somewhat tamed as well). Peat and charred oak, green apple, very earthy, brine, chocolate, seafood, more roasted pineapple, unripe apple, thyme, and a touch of PX, diesel, and pepper. Much better than its aroma. Its finish is surprisingly sweet and quite toasty. Vanilla, more coastal notes with a touch of iodine, strong earthy and rugged notes, wild herbs, lemon, orange, strawberry, slightly farmy notes, and mint. Very dirty, toasty, earthy, coastal, and herbal. It leaves a sugary, slightly acidic, and salty sensation. It builds up, with a rich toasted, fruity, sugary and coastal lingering. Very particular. An interesting combination of aromas and flavors from both Islay's peated whiskies and the peated ones from the Highlands, like a mix of Caol Ila and Inchmoan, with a hint of Longrow. On the one hand, there’s the ocean ozone, roasted herring, raw oysters, and Japanese seaweed from Islay; on the other hand, the dirty, earthy peat characteristic of the Highlands, with a streak of industrial notes à la Kilkerran. The oloroso influence perfectly masks seams that might have been more intriguing left exposed, and adds a complexity that this whisky, despite being so young, doesn’t seem to need but is very appreciated. At first, I thought it landed in no man’s land, as it doesn’t fully commit to what appear to be its two main influences. However, it has ended up being one of my favorite bottles of the year, one I’ve returned to often. While it’s not as coastal and maritime as Ardbeg or Laphroaig, nor as dirty, earthy, and industrial as Ballechin or Inchmoan, it manages to balance these flavors deliciously… though somewhat superficially; so, perhaps it’s not as interesting as it could be. But we’re talking about an inaugural release, so I have high hopes. Lovely stuff.

Very nice whisky age wise, looking forward to their future releases.

Ardnahoe 5 years, Inaugural Release, 50% alc. Matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks (Oloroso) Nose: The whisky starts with peat smoke, wood-fired oven and citrus fruits, as well as apple compote, roasted malt and a hint of vanilla. The smoke is reminiscent not only of peat but also of hay. Palate: The peat smoke increases again and spreads throughout the mouth. Sea salt, ginger and cloves, pepper and red currants. Plus burnt apple peel, apple pie, wood smoke, seaweed. Finish: Medium-long, oily, slightly warming. Peat smoke with a light citrus sweetness. The spices are now much more subtle. Conclusion: A really good performance for a 5-year-old whisky. This will produce really complex whisky in the coming years. 85/100 points (2024)

Dress: gold. Nose: thick smoke, with a very nice fruitiness, yellow orange fruits and it's true a square of tomatoes as Serge says. Palate: A marine wave with seafood, green pepper and lemon. Islay with a delicate and sweet oily side. Freshness, smoke and the sea. A treat for children… Smoky and medicinal finish. How do you make such a young whisky with such perfection? It is rich, balanced, with a peat very well integrated into the distillate. Aging in Sherry and Bourbon casks combined with peat is an example. A great pleasure. The rest please, 88/100

Zacht en lekker.

The bottle has been open for a while now, and I think oxygen has been at work. The smoke isn't quite as intensely aggressive as I remembered; instead, it has opened up to reveal a much more fruit-forward profile. It strikes a lovely balance where peat and smoke are highly satisfying, and they don't completely wreck your palate for having another dram afterward. While it isn't hyper-complex, the sheer quality and heavy structural weight at just 5 years old is deeply impressive. The word "tasty" just sums it up perfectly.

A very successful inaugural release of this newly established distillery. Lots of peat, smoke, forest fruits, citrus fruits. It's easy to sip, it's a typical holiday whisky, the alcohol is imperceptible, despite its youth, the whisky made a big impression on me, I'll gladly buy a second bottle.

Ardnahoe 5 years. Inaugural Release. 50% Matured in ex-bourbon and oloroso cask. First of all, I find a lot of personality to Ardnahoe to do a state age in the inaugural release (despite the young age). If we see other new destilleries like Strathearn, Wolfburn, Kilchoman, Torabhaig among others, we can see that none of them have done it. Overall, it is an excellent Inaugural Release young, but good. It shows that there may be new destilleries in Islay. I am expecting to taste more bottles.

Sample from xbein. Blind-tasted 07/24. At least I located it on the right island... Young but with potential.

Interesting first bottling. Fine smoke on the nose, strong first taste and a gentle, slightly sharp finish. Overall, very decent for the first single malt!

Ardnahoe is the first distillery of the independent bottler Hunter Laing. Stewart Laing originally planned to build the new Gartbreck Distillery on Islay with Jean Donnay, who at the time ran the small Glann ar Mor distillery in Brittany. But they never really came to an agreement and finally fell out over land issues. In 2017, Donnay announced the end of Gartbreck, but Hunter Laing already had permission to build the Ardnahoe Distillery. The inaugural release has now been released at the age of 5. It is a classic, smoky Islay whisky, matured in ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso, bottled at 50% vol., not colored and not chill-filtered. glen-efze.de

Color: golden. Nose: smoke, peat, oilcloth, burnt plastic, olive oil, wet newspaper, rubber, dried mango slices, roasted nuts, lemons, green apples, a bit of lacquer, spruce needles, chocolate, tooth powder, caramel, tobacco, roasted pineapple. Taste: peat, dark chocolate, lemons, persimmons, green apples, a bit of smoke, some spice, green olives, bitter herbs. Not very complicated, but goes down smoothly. Finish: peat, iodine, pepper, salt, bitter herbs, chocolate, persimmons, smoke, tobacco, green bananas, ash. Conclusion: well, this is a really good whisky! 86/100, a strong score for a 5-year-old malt. The nose is very Islay-like, the taste is not overly sweet. I would really like to follow their evolution.

Sampled blind The Islay DNA is clear. I eliminated Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Bowmore right away. Didn’t taste like peated Bunna either. I considered Lagavulin and actually wrote down, “Unlikely to be Ardnahoe,” but in the end I guessed it was Port Charlotte. I suppose maybe a certain McEwan character came through. I did think it was a blend of bourbon and some kind of wine casks, though I suspected table wine rather than sherry. The sort of thing McEwan used to do at Bruichladdich. Thought it was young, but more like 10 years rather than 5. Pretty impressive for the age, and I expect it will continue to develop very nicely.

One of my favorite bottles of the last year. Incredibly balanced for just 5 year old whisky at 50%. Doesn't even need water. Ashy smoke, bbq, some sweetness and fruit. Lovely stuff.

Although it has only been 5 years, they have shown considerable strength.

Very nice and pleasant whisky. Peaty for sure, but not too hefty. Creamy structure, sweet smoke.

Visually, it has a rich golden color. The peat smoke leads. Toffee, fruit bread, marzipan and almond croissants are pleasing to the nose. On the palate, the newcomer is very creamy and smooth. The alcohol is excellently integrated, the 50% set is a good fit. Leather and mandarin nuances replace the marzipan, the smoke becomes sweet and fruity in the mouth. The aromas from the nose are consistently found in the taste, complemented by oak spice. Pleasantly long aftertaste, as one would expect from young Islay smokers. Salted caramel and a fine wood spice remain right at the end. Good! A nice start from the distillery, without any metallic or other off notes. A successful debut, no question about it. With the addition of water, both set at 50% ABV, the Inaugural even seems a little more complex than Billy Walker's great 4-year-old Future Edition of the Peated GlenAllachie, which, however, beats the reduced Ardnahoe at full cask strength. More notes and reviews on Facebook: #Maltkanzlei

A worthy first edition that makes you want to see what is to come.

Blind sample tasting Coal ash smoke, floury pear, persimmon, oat flakes, slightly maritime and plasticine. Solid young smoky whisky but not worth €80.

This inaugural is very promising for what the future will bring. The whisky is completely different from what else is produced on Islay. In terms of style, Ardnahoe may be a little more towards Lagavulin, a subtle, full, sweet, smoky whisky. Very tasty and seems older than the stated age.

Flat on the nose, little peat smoke. Light sweetness, some alcohol. On the palate more smoke, vanilla, fruit sweetness, little spiciness, slight bitterness. Medium finish offers sweet bitterness with little smoke. Solid drop, but not a high-flyer.

For a first release this is actually a good islay whisky. Strong peaty taste with a hint of citrus and the nice flavour of the olorosso finishes the whisky fine. For me the taste is very close to a Caol Ila but with a twist of more peat at the end.

Once again one of the newer distilleries that did everything right. Smart barrels and almost drinkable strength. If it stays that way then hurrah. I have no idea how all these great new distilleries plan to let their malts mature for 20 or even 30 years, because unfortunately there aren't enough good barrels in which a malt doesn't become woody at some point. But what is available today is more than pleasing for almost all new distilleries. Not to mention Smögen, Kornog or Hollyrood outside Scotland. I'm really super excited.

This bottle was not as good as we had hoped.The level of taste is not matched by the price.

Not bad, really not bad. For such a young malt. The aroma structure is more than solid, perhaps a little too deliberate in its design, i.e. constructed, but you can see the know-how behind it. Something interesting is maturing on Islay. For the full review, click here: https://keinehalbendrinks.de/2024/11/08/newcomer-e/

Solid whisky - similar notes to Caol Ila

don't get me wrong, this is a quality Islay, my only comment it is "just another Islay". It does it things totally correct, but there is for me nothing that makes it unique. And then the price that comes with it...

Decent start, young smokers almost always do quite well, pleasant profile, the basic character of Ardnahoe, which I was able to try in the new make, comes through well.

Musty, sour

Good taste from a new distillery

08/30/2025 - 33 ml Oh, how I must always have a bottle of clean, shiny, oily peat!

Flat and intuitive peat and smoke, the sharp acidity of yellow fruit, spices including black pepper, a style reminiscent of octomore, simple and intuitive, requires long-term aeration.

Great smoke, lots of sea, fruity, delicious malt, nutty, spice, wood – everything you could want in a perfect whisky. This one is completely convincing, but I like the Infinite Loch even better. This is a successful start for the distillery!

A convincing debut dram, sweet smoke with apple and raisins, at 50% the alcohol is just right in combination with the sweetness of the fruit and phenol. A really good first effort, no doubt this Islay newcomer will be challenging the old guard.

A beautiful Islay whisky. I would say a cross between kilchoman and caol ila. But above all a standalone islay! The nose already seems a lot more mature.

tasted at Whisky in Leiden 2024, 1st of June 2024 always nice to meet a new distillery, I do think this has potential indeed. But it is still a young Islay. Quite fine, but nothing extraordinary.

Nicely made for a "first". The delicate smoke is well integrated. However, the smoked bacon note, even with the addition of water, is always in the foreground and only subtly brings out the existing apricot sweetness.

In terms of taste, the layers are good. The scent is a bit lacking. I think a good whisky will come out if it ages further. Considering that the finish becomes more colorful when mixed with water, it seems to be a bit closed overall.

New born Islay whisky. Balanced Peat whisky. Taste&Buying

Tasted 07/2024

A fantastic debut from Ardnahoe, well-executed and very promising. No 'youthful' flaws. A special take on the 'Islay South Coast style': We learned on site that the peat used by Ardnahoe is indeed extracted in the south of the island, but considerably further inland than the peat used by the three classic South Coast distilleries. This is intended to create a specific flavor profile that is meant to be Ardnahoe's trademark.