Cadenhead’s Caol Ila 18yo (Club Bottling) & Cadenheads Ardmore 14yo Authentic Collection March 2025

Cadenhead’s Caol Ila 18yo (Club Bottling)

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.1%

Price: £135.00

Distilled in 2006, this 18-year-old Caol Ila was reracked into an Oloroso hogshead in 2024 before being bottled in 2025. A total of 210 bottles were released exclusively for Cadenhead’s Club members.

Nose

The nose is initially quite tarry with kerosene, dried earth, limoncello, verbena, and a nice hit of peanut satay. As it opens up, we’re getting cigar smoke, orange peel, sea spray, flat lemonade, and proving dough. It’s easy to nose at the ABV, and shows a well balanced mix of sweetness and peat.

Palate

There’s plenty of upfront peat in the form of ash, dried earth, and streaky bacon, but it’s nicely balanced by sweeter notes of butterscotch and fudge. Mid-palate brings in cashew nuts and honey. A peppery spice emerges toward the finish, which is a good length. Unfortunately the sweetness and peat taper off before the spice does, but it doesn’t detract too much from the overall experience. It has a nice coastal mouthfeel as well.

Nose (with water)

With water, the earthy peat softens, giving way to the dying embers of a bonfire. New notes of strawberries and cream come forward, pushing the nuttiness into the background. It leans more fruity and slightly less peaty now, but there’s still plenty here for peat fans to enjoy.

Palate (with water)

The mouthfeel takes a slight dip, but the flavour remains interesting. Orange marmalade and dark chocolate bitterness come through now, while the peat shifts into the background. Saying that there’s still enough smoke to keep things interesting. The finish stays more or less the same in length and flavours.

Conclusion

A well balanced dram where the Oloroso finish has added a welcome layer of complexity without overwhelming the distillery character. There’s enough peat here to satisfy fans of smoky whisky, and the combination of sweet, savoury, and smoke notes are very enjoyable. We wished we had grabbed a bottle.

Score: 8/10

Value

It feels a touch pricey compared to typical Cadenhead’s bottlings, but it’s definitely a tasty dram.

Cadenheads Ardmore 14yo Authentic Collection March 2025

Region: Highlands

ABV: 56.5%

Price: £70.00

Distilled in 2010 and matured in a bourbon barrel, this Ardmore was bottled at 14 years old in March 2025.

Nose

The nose opens with a distinctly Ardmore farmyard character, and we’re getting hay bales, brine, sardines, and cold butter. There’s a light smokiness, reminiscent of cigarette or cigar smoke, but it’s subtle. As it opens up, we’re getting sweeter notes like candy floss, caramel, apple strudel, and butterscotch, with salt and a hint of lemon peel. It’s noses a little older than it is.

Palate

Very sweet initially with Limoncello, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, butter, and lemonade. It coats the mouth well and has an oily, and coastal quality. Plenty of earthy peat here along with oysters and more of that briny character from the nose. Some pepper spice appears on the medium length finish. The palate doesn’t quite match the same level of complexity as the nose, but is pleasant.

Nose (with water)

The palate has become spicier and hotter with water. There’s less sweetness, and new notes of pickled ginger and orange peel appear on the mid-palate. The mouthfeel takes a bit of a hit. There’s more farmyard funk now, but very little smoke to speak of. The finish remains medium length.

Palate (with water)

The palate becomes honeyed with water, though it oddly also becomes even more spicy through on the mid-palate. A strong grapefruit note appears, which turns bitter and lingers on the finish alongside a touch of dark chocolate. The spice has eased back a bit on the finish, which remains a good length . Mouthfeel hasn’t changed much.

Conclusion

Young Ardmore hasn’t been blowing us away lately, but we’ll admit that this is a good example of what the distillery can do. The nose is has a little complexity. It’s just a shame the palate doesn’t quite keep up. Still, a very drinkable dram and another solid showing from Cadenhead.

Score: 7/10

Value

As usual, another well priced release from Cadenhead. For £70, it’s hard to argue with the value here.

• 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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