Review by: Raygun

First Ardnamurchan for me, after hearing a lot of good things. Opened by independent bottler Adelphi in 2014. I find their bottling scheme not tremendously helpful. This is apparently the fourth batch (of the year?) from July 2021, but otherwise I can’t tell much. There’s a QR code on the bottle with a link to more info, but as I don’t have the bottle that’s not so helpful. Fortunately someone else does, and there I have learned that it’s 5 years old, a blend of 50-50 peated and unpeated, and 65% ex-bourbon and 35% sherry casks. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 10 minutes. 

Distillery: Ardnamurchan

Bottler: Ardnamurchan

Region/style: Highland single malt Scotch

ABV: 46.8%

Age: 5 years. Distilled in 2015 or 2016 and bottled in 2021. 

Cask type: 65% bourbon 35% sherry

Color: 0.8 deep gold. Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Malty, with a bit of overripe plantain and some cake. Grapefruit and a hint of cellar funk. Not exactly the musty character oloroso casks sometimes have, but reminds me of a dirt floor cellar. 

Palate: Some funk here as well. Partly overripe plantain and papaya, partly dunnage. Got some Springbank-like character to it; I wonder if it’s lightly peated (not so lightly, it seems). Taiwanese pineapple cakes and a little toffee. Got some unusual turns to it.      

Finish: Some more tropical funk. Pineapple cakes and those overripe plantains. There’s some kind of spice too; can’t quite put my finger on it. Again a very earthy and somewhat farmy flavor. 

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Conclusion: I begin to get the buzz with Ardnamurchan. No obvious young notes, which is an achievement, and it is pulling something off in the neighborhood of Springbank. There isn’t that much light-medium peat out there, and it’s a style that should be better represented. While this isn’t a world-beater, it was a good first experience with the distillery and I’m curious to try more. 

Buy a bottle? Will look for others; I’d be more interested to buy something at cask strength.

Final Score: 77

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)