Ardnahoe Society 2024

Ardnahoe Society 2024

Region: Islay

ABV: 59.1%

Price: £85.00 

The Ardnahoe Society 2024 Release is exclusively available to members of the Ardnahoe Society. This 5-year-old whisky has been fully matured in ex-Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry quarter casks. While there are no details on the number of bottles released, it is still available for purchase at the time of writing for those who are interested.

Nose

On the nose, there’s a noticeable amount of peat initially, though it’s more like bonfire smoke rather than earthy or medicinal peat. This fades quickly, giving way to aromas of peanuts, cashew nuts, orange frosting, baked bread, and yeast. It’s easy to nose at its current ABV, with additional hints of honey, brown sugar, and treacle appearing with patience. Given the quarter cask maturation, we were expecting a stronger sherry influence.

Palate

Even at 59.1%, the palate is a bit rough and slightly too spicy for our liking. It opens with a good hit of smoky peat, which transitions into notes of dried earth, bitter dark chocolate, lime juice, raw ginger, and pipe tobacco on the mid-palate. The mouthfeel is good, with a slightly oily and coastal character. On the finish, the smoke and a touch of ash return, providing a decently long finish.

Nose (with water)

With water, the peat is slightly subdued, with more earthy peat now coming through, accompanied by notes of warehouse funk and damp clothes. Golden syrup, prunes, and chocolate buttons make an appearance, while the baked bread and yeast notes are diminished, making the whisky appear slightly older now.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate brings out more smoke, along with notes of apricot jam and orange juice. The spice is better balanced, while the mouthfeel remains good, and the finish is still of a decent length. Beyond that, there aren’t many significant changes for us.

Conclusion

We think this whisky benefits from a drop of water to balance out some of the spice on the palate. With dilution, it’s a step above the first release. That said, while it’s an impressive dram for a 5-year-old, it would still benefit from more time in the cask to develop additional complexity and sweetness to better balance the spirit character. We’re excited to see what the distillery can produce after a few more years of maturation.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

£85 for a 5-year-old does feel a bit on the expensive side, but it’s in line with the pricing we’ve seen from most of the “New Wave” distilleries.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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