The Ardmore Tradition is (was?) the travel retail version of the Ardmore Traditional Cask. The latter has now been replaced as the entry-level expression by the Ardmore Legacy, which is unfortunately bottled at 40%. This one, however, is the same as the Traditional Cask – i.e. 46%, no chill-filtration and finished in quarter casks.
Nose: Foresty smoke (if that makes any sense), which sweetens considerably with water. Quite fruity too, with melons and peaches peering from behind the smoke.
Palate: The smoke is quite herbal and slightly mentholy (could some ex-Laphroaig casks have been used?), a bit of vanilla, some fruit again. Quite simple, but what it does, it does well.
Finish: Quite long, on sweet smoke.
Comments: No-frills fruit and smoke that offers a refreshingly different take on peat compared to the usual suspects from Islay.
Score: 84/100
The Daily Dram 