Despite launching with an impressive Inaugural Release of 70,000 bottles, Ardnahoe, Islay’s newest distillery, has shown no signs of slowing down. Rather than resting on the success of its debut, the distillery has continued to build momentum and expand its presence in the whisky world. In addition to producing a handful of special bottlings for the annual Fèis Ìle festival, Ardnahoe has now introduced two permanent additions to its core range: Ardnahoe Infinite Loch and Bholsa.
Ardnahoe Infinite Loch (2024) Review
Ardnahoe Infinite Loch is a single malt Scotch whisky matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks and bottled without artificial colouring or chill filtration. The whisky has an alcohol content of 50% and is the distillery’s first core range expression. It is named after the distillery’s water source, Loch Ardnahoe, and is available for approximately £55.
Colour:
Jonquille.
Nose:
Neat: The nose is intense; don’t quickly dip your nose too far into the glass! It immediately presents coastal and smoky notes, reminiscent of grilled scallops on the barbecue and sea spray, accompanied by sweet lemonade and orange peels, wet pebbles, chalk, petrichor and fresh tar.
With water: The scent feels sharper, revealing its youth with notes of pear and sun-dried hay.
Palate:
Neat: The initial palate is sweet and maritime, featuring sweet lemonade, seashells, and sea salt, followed by soot and thick, greasy smoke. Caramel, grapefruit, chocolate, and a touch of oak char are present. The mouthfeel is oily and chalky, with a hint of white pepper and floral notes.
With water: The palate becomes saltier, with increased oak char, bitterness, and soot.
Finish:
The finish shows soot, oak, coal, chalk, salt, and pepper, with a hint of burnt toast, lasting medium to long.
Comments:
The Ardnahoe Infinite Loch is a commendable whisky, though it falls slightly short of the quality found in the Inaugural Release. Nevertheless, it stands as a quality whisky that offers great value for its price, continuing the promising direction established by its predecessor. For this, Ardnahoe deserves recognition.
Rating: 6.5/10
Ardnahoe Bholsa (2025) Review
Ardnahoe Bholsa is predominantly matured in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled without artificial colouring or chill filtration, and like Infinite Loch, at 50% ABV. Named after the Bholsa caves near the distillery, Ardnahoe Bholsa is the second core expression from the distillery. It is available for purchase at around £60.
Colour:
Burnished.
Nose:
Neat: The nose appears darker and peatier compared to Infinite Loch, featuring dry smoke, smouldering coal, leather, hazelnuts, walnuts, brine, and liquorice root.
With water: Dilution reveals fruity notes, including blueberry muffins, dried figs, raisins, and hints of orange peel, along with a suggestion of Neapolitan cakes.
Palate:
Neat: An initial sweetness quickly gives way to citrus, heathery peat, walnuts, and burnt bacon. Flavours of dark chocolate, coffee, black cherries, nutmeg, clove, liquorice root, and soot follow. The mouthfeel is here as well oily and slightly chalky.
With water: The texture becomes notably oily and syrupy, with herbal notes, hints of blackcurrant, and more dark chocolate.
Finish:
The finish presents a spicy heat with ginger, followed by empyreumatic notes of dark chocolate, charred wood, coffee, and smoked prunes.
Comments:
The Ardnahoe Bholsa exhibits a pleasant sherry influence, though it is far from being a sherry bomb. It is a very good whisky, with the increased use of Oloroso casks compared to the Infinite Loch justifying the price difference, as sherry casks are significantly more expensive than ex-bourbon casks. However, the £10 price difference feels fair, not only due to the cost of casks but also because the Bholsa feels like a step up in terms of taste as well.