Ardray is a blended Scotch whisky that has been created by the blenders at the House of Suntory. They are one of the most famous producers of Japanese whisky. It is inspired by the Scotch whiskies that were blended by Suntory’s founder, Shinjiro Torii. Ardray’s aim is to create a subtle, yet complex whisky that would suit the delicate Japanese palate while maintaining a deep respect for Scotch whisky. It contains single malt and single grain whiskies from across Scotland.
Shinjiro Torii, started building the Yamazaki distillery, Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in 1922. Production began a year later in 1923. His earlier career had included blending and selling western spirits including Scotch whisky. Torii is often regarded as the father of Japanese whisky, and certainly the man who grew the love of western-style spirits in Japan. He did this by creating blends to suit the Japanese palate.
It is with respect to his early blends that the current House of Suntory blending team have worked to create ‘the perfect malt-rich ratio where neither the malts nor grains dominated the flavour, but instead elevated the entire blend’. Ardray’s journey and creation focussed on the same blended Scotch whiskies from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that inspired Shinjiro Torii. These are the legendary blends that pioneered Scotch’s worldwide expansion and subsequent global success.
Ardray is bottled at 48% ABV and is available from specialist spirits retailers in selected world markets for around £60. Our tasting notes below are for the 2023 Release of this whisky.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is bright gold and the nose is elegant and sweet with a wisp of gentle peat smoke. Delicious aromas of heather honey and malty cereals lead the way, and are well supported by further aromas of fresh green grass, peach juice and white chocolate. Something umami sits underneath and adds a savoury aspect, as does some flinty and mineralic smoke.
On the palate this whisky feels vibrant and uplifting. The smokiness is much more prominent and immediate now, although not overpowering, and has a distinct ashy ember-like feel. There are also some early floral notes, especially jasmine and passion flower. Then come fruity and tropical characteristics. These are fresh and reminiscent of pineapple, passion fruit with a hint of peach.
There is again plenty of malted cereal , which adds structure, but overall the whisky remains quite light in body and feel. Late notes of lemon sherbet, heather honey and a hint icing sugar add depth and complexity. The underlying umami note, which is reminisent of yeast extract, rounds things off.
The finish is quite ashy and really malty, but with late peppery kick. These elements especially come to the fore once the sweet and fruity characteristics have faded. This leaves an earthy and drying feel, with plenty of warmth.
What’s The Verdict?
Ardray is an elegant whisky that feels a little different from many Scotch whiskies. Maybe it is the powerful of suggestion about the Japanese influences? The nose is a little underwhelming, but the body and palate has plenty going on. There is plenty of depth and complexity, while also maintaining it elegance. All of this makes us wonder whether this has been designed to be mixed into a highball style cocktail, for which it would be perfect, rather than sipped neat.
