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19th September 2025 |
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Review of six
sherry influenced Clydebuilt single malt
whiskies from Ardgowan distillery, and
if the quality of these sherried drams
are anything to go by then they're are
some very good whiskies to come from
Ardgowan.
Ardgowan
Distillery in Inverkip, which laid down
its first cask in June 2025, expanded
the portfolio of its independent whisky
label, Clydebuilt, just a month later
with the launch of six new small-batch
Single Malt whiskies—including three
distinctive Single Cask expressions.
First introduced in 2019, Clydebuilt is
the boutique brand crafted under the
guidance of Ardgowan Distillery, an
independent Scotch whisky producer
rooted in Inverkip. The distillery
itself officially opened to visitors
only last month, after eight years of
planning and construction, marking a
major milestone as it began filling
casks of its very own spirit.
A Legacy in Every Drop
The Clydebuilt name honours the proud
shipbuilding traditions of the River
Clyde—an enduring symbol of
craftsmanship, resilience, and
integrity.
Distillery Manager Laura Davies, who
brings 13 years of experience and was
mentored by the late Dr. Jim Swan, has
curated this latest collection of
Clydebuilt Single Malts, drawn from
renowned Speyside stock and shaped with
her expert touch.
As with all
Clydebuilt expressions, every whisky is
bottled natural colour and non-chill
filtered—ensuring an authentic and
uncompromised taste.
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Clydebuilt 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Matured Review
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Aged in a combination of Sherry
butts, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez
hogsheads, bottled at 46% ABV. RRP
£46.99
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Inviting
layers of sherried fruit with dark
cherries and a hint of orange, balanced
by gentle vanilla sweetness. Distant
notes of dark chocolate mingle with
spiced ginger biscuit. A wee hint of
tobacco.
Taste: A
sumptuously smooth palate opens with
layers of rich sherried fruit—raisins,
sultanas, and a burst of orange. Gentle
vanilla sweetness emerges beneath the
fruit, joined by subtle cloves and
nutmeg, before cinnamon, dry ginger, and
a delicate sprinkle of pepper bring
warmth and spice.
Finish: A
longish finish where the sherried fruit
gently recedes, giving way to peppery
spice and a touch of drying oak.
Comment:
A superb sherried whisky that stands
shoulder to shoulder with the finest
sherried Speyside expressions of this
age. Beautifully balanced and packed
with flavour, it’s a true treat for
sherry-oak enthusiasts—if this is your
style of dram, you’re bound to love it.
SMW Whisky Score
90/100
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Clydebuilt 12 Year Old 100 Proof Sherry Cask Matured Review
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A robust interpretation of the
above, matured in a combination of
sherry butts , then Pedro Ximénez and
Oloroso hogsheads then bottled at 57.1% ABV (British
100 Proof), recalling the era when
spirits were tested with gunpowder
ignition. RRP £64.99
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A
rush of rich sherry, brimming with
raisins and dates, makes an immediate
impression—full, dense, and commanding.
Dark chocolate and sweet mocha
intertwine with a cigar-tobacco edge,
while hints of spiced Christmas mince
pie, roasted nuts, and a touch of toffee
add depth and warmth.
Taste: Silky
and indulgent, with layers of dark,
sherried fruits—burnt raisins, sultanas,
and a flicker of orange zest. Vibrant
oak spices and a gentle crack of pepper
unfold, before melding into notes of
cigar tobacco, bittersweet chocolate,
and a subtle drizzle of honey.
Finish: Deliciously
long and lingering, the sherried fruit
resonates before giving way to earthy
cigar box tones and a dry, oaken
elegance.
Comment:
A bold, sherry-driven dram that marries
rich dark fruits and indulgent sweetness
with refined cigar-box spice and oak.
Luxurious, layered, and
lingering—perfect for those who love
depth and sherry intensity in their
whisky.
SMW Whisky Score
94/100
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Clydebuilt 12 Year Old Official Opening Day Release Review
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A commemorative bottling marking
Ardgowan’s official opening on June
20, 2025. Matured in three Sherry
casks (PX and Oloroso sherry), presented at cask strength of
59.5% ABV. RRP £85
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: An
opulent gentle mix of vanilla and honey
entwines with sherry-soaked sultanas and
raisin-studded fruitcake. Bright flashes
of orange and lemon lift the richness,
while hints of toasted almond, gentle
ginger, and spiced treacle toffee add
warmth and depth.
Taste: Luscious,
sugar-kissed sherry fruit leads the
charge, with raisins, sultanas, and
cherries at the forefront, joined by
juicy plum and a hint of zesty orange.
Subtle nutty undertones and a touch of
vanilla weave through, while gentle
honey, warm cinnamon, and soft oak
spices linger in the background, adding
depth and complexity.
Finish: A
long finish where gentle burnt raisins
and sultanas linger with remarkable
persistence. Equally gentle waves of
cinnamon and ginger carry through,
joined by a wee trace of treacle toffee,
before fading into a softly drying
oakiness.
Comment:
A beautifully balanced gentler sherried
dram—still rich in dark fruits and
sweetness and lifted with a gentle
citrus brightness and warm spice. Gentle
layers of vanilla, honey, and oak carry
through from nose to finish, delivering
a long, refined, and deeply satisfying
experience.
SMW Whisky Score
91/100
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Clydebuilt 2012 Pedro Ximénez Hogshead Single Cask Review
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Drawn from cask AS059, which once
held PX Sherry, yielding 352 bottles
at 58.5% ABV. RRP £85
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sweet
layers of honey and toffee entwined with
juicy raisins, a hint of apricot, and
delicate sugared almond, a whisper of
distant pepper.
Taste: Smooth
and sugar charged sweet, with a vibrant
richness. Juicy raisins and apricot lead
the way, layered with a buttery edge of
butterscotch and a sprinkle of toasted
almond. Bright notes of zesty orange and
lemon bring freshness, while oak and
ginger lend gentle spice. A wee touch of
late pepper.
Finish: A
beautifully long finish, where dried,
sweet, gentle sherried fruits linger on
the palate before gracefully fading,
allowing peppery oak spice with a gentle
sweetness to have the last word.
Comment:
A vibrant, fruit-forward dram that
balances luscious sweetness with gentle
spice. From honeyed raisins and apricot
on the nose to rich butterscotch, citrus
brightness, and a graceful, oak-spiced
finish, it delivers both indulgence and
elegance in equal measure.
SMW Whisky Score
90/100
Nose: Ripe figs, sticky dates and rich
caramel.
Taste: Velvety toffee, dark chocolate
and a touch of espresso.
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Clydebuilt 2012 Oloroso Hogshead Single Cask Review
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Matured in cask AS076, previously
home to Oloroso—the richest of dry
Sherries. Limited to 342 bottles at
59.0% ABV. RRP £85
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A
sultana and raisin sweetness balanced by
a subtle, savoury richness. Distant
pepper and hints of bright lemon citrus,
soft vanilla, and a trace of almond oil
add finesse and depth.
Taste: Bright
citrus and gentle spice open the palate,
with orange marmalade complemented by
sweet sultanas and raisins. Layers of
vanilla toffee, nutmeg and honey follow,
as the spice gradually builds,
developing into a lively, peppery heat.
Finish: Sweet
sherry tones deepen with a subtle meaty
edge, joined by lingering vanilla,
nutmeg, honey, and almond. As they fade,
peppery oak takes the final word,
leaving a softly drying close.
Comment:
A characterful sherried dram that
balances rich sultana sweetness with
citrus brightness and warming spice.
Complex yet approachable, it evolves
from honeyed fruit and toffee into
lively pepper and oak, finishing with
depth, warmth, and a subtle savoury,
spicy twist.
SMW Whisky Score
/100
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Clydebuilt 2012 Manzanilla Hogshead Single Cask Review
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Finished in a rare Manzanilla cask
from Sanlúcar de Barrameda,
delivering a delicate maritime
character. Only 335 bottles
available at 61.1% ABV. RRP £85
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft
malt aromas with a sweet,
vanilla-tinged, sugared edge, layered
with green apple and the very slightest
whisper of orange.
Taste: Oak-spiced
apple takes the lead, supported by sweet
vanilla, while gentle, slightly drying
oak spices build before giving way to
subtle hints of lemon and milk
chocolate.
Finish: A
long, warming finish of vanilla and
spice gradually fades, leaving
lingering, slightly drying oak with a
subtle salty edge tussling with the
remaining sugars with no winner as its a
deliciously lingering equal match.
Comment:
A delicate yet layered dram that
balances soft malt sweetness with bright
apple and gentle citrus on the nose. The
palate unfolds with oak-spiced apple,
vanilla, and hints of chocolate, leading
to a long, harmonious finish where
spice, oak, and a touch of salty-sweet
interplay linger beautifully. Elegant,
nuanced, and enduring.
SMW Whisky Score
91/100
I don't think I have tasted six such
high quality sherried drams in one
session, all outstanding drams which you will find
alongside the rest of the Clydebuilt range
from Ardgowan Distillery available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
Master of Malt
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