Ardnahoe 5 year old Cask Strength

Profile: The Ardnahoe 5 year old Cask Strength at a Glance

• The first cask strength edition from the Ardnahoe Distillery - Batch No. 1 (2025)
• Made for over 5 years exclusively in first-fill bourbon barrels
• Bottled directly at natural cask strength with a five-year age statement
• A powerful 60.9% ABV without chill filtration & No added colorings
• Limited batch as part of the distillery's new Cask Strength series

Portrait: What makes the Ardnahoe 5 year old Cask Strength so special

The Ardnahoe 5 year old Cask Strength - Batch No. 1 (2025) is here! And when something is called a "premiere" on the Scottish island of Islay, it's clear: This isn't just a cask being opened, it's a curtain being lifted. Make way for the first cask strength bottling from the young Ardnahoe Distillery - and at a hefty 60.9% ABV, it really packs a punch. No wonder: The whisky was allowed to mature for a full five years in first-fill bourbon casks and was then bottled directly from the cask without hesitation. Natural, authentic, self-assured - the island style sends its regards.

With this bottling, Ardnahoe demonstrates not only strength but also ambition. The distillery may still be young, but it is clearly determined to play in the big leagues of Islay distilleries. And not in the background – more like the guy who bursts through the door at a party and shouts, "Okay, let's get this show on the road!" Batch No. 1 is the first in a series of individual cask-strength releases, which will be published in strictly limited editions. A collector's item? A piece of distillery history? A conversation starter at your next whisky night? Why not all three at once?

Maturation in first-fill bourbon casks gives this young Islay malt a particularly intense character – and although we're obviously not talking about the taste, it can at least be said that Ardnahoe delivers a powerful expression of what one imagines a “full-bodied island style” to be. A true Islay character, but without airs: simply pure, straightforward, authentic. With the Cask Strength Edition, Ardnahoe continues its journey – accompanied by the “Bholsa” and “Infinite Loch,” which together will shape the profile of the independent distillery in the future. Batch No. 1 is sure to be a tempting catch for collectors, Islay enthusiasts, and anyone who likes to show off with something special. And don't worry: the 60.9% ABV will gladly do the talking if you're momentarily speechless.

About Ardnahoe:

The Ardnahoe Distillery fulfills the long-held dream of the Laing family to produce their own single malt Scotch whisky on the magical island of Islay. The Islay distillery combines the characteristic Islay features of peat and smoke with a sweet fruitiness and an intense depth of flavor. Ardnahoe distills exclusively using traditional methods: softly peated Islay water is drawn from the eponymous Loch Ardnahoe, while Ardnahoe is the only distillery on Islay to use two traditional worm tubs, as well as two copper pot stills with exceptionally long lyne arms, which ensure extreme copper contact and impart additional depth and complexity to the whisky. With Ardnahoe, the classic Islay style is being rediscovered – A New Islay Classic.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Ardnahoe 5 year old Cask Strength tastes like

• Nose: A coastal breeze with a salty sea aroma, earthy peat, and a hint of rich cocoa. In the background, orchard fruits emerge, accompanied by hints of herbal tea and a delicate salted caramel nuance.
• Palate: The impressions from the aroma continue and intensify on the palate into a harmonious blend of peaty earth, maritime freshness, and gentle sweetness. Herbal elements and fruity accents add further depth.
• Finish: Smoky and lingering, with subtle citrus undertones that lend the finale a vibrant freshness.