Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Ardmore 11yo & Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Laphroaig 14yo

Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Ardmore 11yo

Region: Highlands

ABV: 60.2%

Price: £65.50

Distilled on the 4th December 2014 and bottled on the 15th April 2026 after 11 years of maturation, this Woodrow’s of Edinburgh single cask Ardmore was fully matured in a first fill bourbon barrel. Outturn of 229 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with buttery biscuits, simple white sugar, custard powder, and some lighter tropical fruit notes in the background - think papaya and mango. We're also finding a fair bit of creamy white chocolate and coconut shavings - there's a good amount of cask influence from the first fill bourbon here. On top of these sweeter, fruitier notes sits a gentle peat smoke, fairly earthy, forestry in nature, dried leaves, freshly turned soil, a little eucalyptus, and a bit of cask char too. The alcohol is present but doesn't get in the way, there's not much spice coming through at all. 

Palate

The palate opens with lots of vanilla and white chocolate sweetness, hazelnut and chocolate spread, some toffee bon bons, a little black pepper spice and brown butter. The mouthfeel is fairly viscous and textured, like double cream, and the finish lingers on for a good while - a little peppery, a little bit of orange zest and cocoa nibs. The smoke is nicely integrated, it's quite earthy, more dried leaves, a little dirty, but it's acting as a background note rather than the prominent flavour profile. Time and air brings a little citrus out - zesty lemon, maybe a little lime, and a bit of raw chili pepper on the finish.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has the fruit moving to the forefront, it feels lighter, zestier, fresher. There's a lot of sweetness, caster sugar, alongside some orange peel and candied almonds. The little spice that we detected on the unreduced nose has softened even more, it's very gentle now. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate follows the reduced nose - fresher, zestier, chocolate orange, some almond paste, the spice is mellowed out, it's like a candied ginger warmth now rather than a peppery spice. It has lost a bit of mouthfeel, but overall we'd say that water makes this even more approachable. The peat smoke seems to linger a little longer on the finish now too. 

Conclusion

We find Ardmore can be quite acrid, and we tend to shy away from the distillery, but this single cask is a great example of what the spirit in good wood can achieve. There's not too many dimensions to the dram, it's predominantly sweet, chocolatey, with a little citrus, but it's got a good balance and is quite enjoyable. 

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Good price for the distillery and age.

Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Laphroaig 14yo

Region: Islay

ABV: 58.7%

Price: £121.50

Distilled at Laphroaig on the 1st of November 2011 and bottled by Woodrow’s of Edinburgh on the 16th of April 2026 after 14 years of maturation. Finished in a Palo Cortado quarter cask with an outturn of 63 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with sweet plums, fresh lemonade, vanilla bean, salty coastal breeze, and a handful of melon chunks. The Laphroaig smoke is here, softer than expected, bringing iodine, salt solution, and antiseptic spray. Time and air brings more of those darker fruits from the Palo Cortado cask, raisins, blackcurrants alongside cherry cola and smoked strawberries. The alcohol is fairly soft, a light bit of ethanol in the background but the other aromas are prominent enough to balance this. 

Palate

The palate opens with some caramel, cinnamon, moving into a strong eucalyptus note, then some chocolate coated raisins. There's a backbone of smoke, but it's not overpowering, or even too noticeable compared to other Laphroaigs - it mostly appears on the finish, lingering with some iodine and burnt wood. Time and air brings out chocolate digestive biscuits, a handful of nuts and some cracked black pepper spice. There's also some clove spice that makes itself known on the finish.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose shows more of a prominent smoke, a little ashy in nature now, alongside hazelnuts, sweet bourbon casks aromas and lemon peel. This feels more like a classic Laphroaig to us, but we've lost some of those sherry cask notes.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate is zingier, fresher almost - more citrus, and more iodine. Like the reduced nose, the smoke is much more in your face, it engulfs the mouth. It's almost as if the drop of water has opened this dram up - but at the expense of some of the richer sherry notes observed before.

Conclusion

Not a powerhouse of peat, this Laphroaig sits on the gentler side, with some added fruit and spice from the Palo Cortado finish. The sherry has had a fair amount of impact on the spirit, but it's integrated nicely. The Laphroaig character is still there, just a little subdued compared to the medicine-heavy expressions from the distillery. 

Score: 7/10

Value

Does feel a little pricey, but then it is named Laphroaig and not Williamson.

• 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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