Brave New Spirits is a Scottish independent bottler that has carved out a niche through creative cask selection and a willingness to experiment. Their Cask Masters range celebrates the influence of the cask itself — not just bourbon and sherry, but fortified wines, red and white wines from around the world, and whatever else catches the eye of the tasting panel.
This Ardmore was distilled in 2016 and bottled at eight years old. The Highland distillery's lightly peated spirit makes it an ideal candidate for experimental cask finishing — the smoke provides a backbone that can support a wide range of wood influences without being overwhelmed. Brave New Spirits have selected a single cask that adds complexity to Ardmore's naturally robust character.
The nose carries Ardmore's signature: earthy peat, heather, and a slightly medicinal edge, softened by the sweetness contributed by the finishing cask. The palate is honest and Highland — malty cereal, gentle smoke, honey, and a building spice from the oak, with the cask influence adding fruit and depth without obscuring the distillery's identity.
The finish is medium, with the peat drying the close and the cask sweetness providing a final counterpoint. At eight years, this is a young whisky, and it wears its age openly — there is a directness here that older expressions smooth away. For fans of Ardmore and of independent bottlers taking considered risks with cask selection, it is a bottle worth seeking out.
