Ardnahoe 5 Year Old Inaugural Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

In this video Erik Wait provides an tour of Ardnahoe Distillery and reviews the Ardnahoe 5 Year Old Inaugural Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
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THIS VIDEO IS INTENDED ONLY FOR VIEWERS WHO ARE OF LEGAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DRINKING AGE IN THEIR COUNTRY.

[@whiskywhereabouts]

Can't wait to get a bottle of this one. Haven't been able to find a bottle here in the US yet...

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Glad you like this one Erik! Yeah this is classic peated Islay whisky. I understand your comparison to Caol Ila and there's nothing wrong with that. I think, like you mentioned as well, as they get older releases out there, their character will form. Cheers 🥃

[@scottallen8292]

Hi Erik, great review. I was at Ardnahoe in 2019. Had a great lunch and it is a beautiful distillery with great views! Unfortunately no whisky yet. Can’t wait to try something from them. Doubt I will see this release in AZ. Thanks. Cheers!

[@marcwhiskey]

I was on Islay the week this released. Unfortunately did not actually go to the distillery. Our Airbnb host actually worked at the distillery. I did end up trying the release in Glasgow at the Pot Still and thoroughly enjoyed it. Reminded me of Ledaig on the nose and Ardbeg on the palate.

[@christinecamley]

I am eagerly looking forward to being able to try the new Ardnahoe 5 Inaugural Release! I have heard lots of interesting, great comments! Cheers Erik!

[@michaelgonzalez347]

I have been waiting to get my hands on a bottle, the cost of shipping kills me now, but I might have to make the splurge. Thanks for the review

[@kylewipert1976]

Great stuff as always!

[@Nicolas_Allende]

Great video as always. Nose back on track I hope.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

About 90% back to normal. I am still sneezing every day.

[@AlexDraut]

Good stuff! I got a couple for around $100 each all things considered, and like it. It has a nice grassy or green note to me with the peat, that I don't get often but do appreciate. Cheers!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks for sharing!

[@wavehuntersjapan]

Grabbed a bottle a few weeks ago. Called Ardnahoe direct and they sent it.

[@willemkilian9563]

Thanks, Erik, for this review! I have been looking forward to this whisky ever since the distillery was announced and am very excited about just having been able to order a bottle. Everything is apparently so well set up and thought out with this distillery. Just a few details that seem to be lacking from everywhere I have looked though. If I'm not mistaken, there is a warehouse at the distillery, but I'm not sure if all the casks they have filled so far have been stored there. I also assume that they are bottling 100% of everything on the mainland somewhere where they are bottling the IBs? Not that I'm knocking it. They already have the infrastructure, so it makes sense to use it, and not everyone can be Springbank. Though I can't help but think that if these few things were to happen on site, it would have made it the perfect distillery.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

When I visited Caol Ila in July 2023 they had small amount of casks being stored. Everything else is matured on the mainland. In my next video on Caol Ila Moch the video will show the room with casks.

[@MichaelKrancer]

Ardnahoe did have a cask sale program but I think it's been closed for some time. Hunter Laing sure has wherewithall though. I was there in 2019 and then again just in 2023. About the prettiest view from a stillroom I've run into. To me the initial release (5YO) was just terrific. Very light and pleasing. I found the peat not as intense as you did - obviously not Ardbeg or Laphroaig IMO and not even Springbank IMO. I found it less strong than you did - to me the influence of the Sherry casks in there. I was really impressed big time just like you. Dangerously drinkable. Agree with you that it is high end for the enthusiast. I am really looking forward to later more aged offerings from Ardnahoe. I got four bottles but for some reason did not pay as much per bottle as you did. I paid 58 GBP per bottle.

[@AlexDraut]

@@MichaelKrancer I was gonna comment on that too. I remember seeing emails and the site about it. Would be tempting to split with people lol.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

For the past month I have had very little whisky due to allergies, a sinus infection and bacterial pneumonia. If you take a break and come back the peat will seem stronger.

[@kevinnordby4808]

Great review Erik! I am also excited for this release….as soon as I heard of an Islay distillery using worm tubs I was in! I don’t think you mentioned viscosity or mouthfeel. Does it have that worm tub feel?

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

The bite of the alcohol overrides the ability to get a worm tub mouth feel.

[@mevech]

How cool would it be if 5 years later we get a non peated bourbon release

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Mmmmmmmm nope. Give me the peat!