Review by: The Muskox
This whisky was part of a tasting of the SMWS’s 2024 Festival Releases at the famous Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, DC, alongside fellow Malt Runner rye_am_legend!
Distillery: Ardnamurchan.
Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Region: Highlands.
ABV: 62.4%. Cask strength.
Age: 8 years. Distilled September 2015. Bottled in 2024.
Cask type: First-fill bourbon barrels.
Price: $150 USD from the SMWS.
Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.
Nose: Spirity and coastal. Lemon oil, chalk, pine sap, buttered popcorn, old parchment, and a hint of something savoury.
Palate: Very thick oily texture. Arrives with cool white fruit, lemon, and fresh herbs, developing to juniper, green tea, and oily fish. Celery seed and basil. Mild peat smoke, burning paper.
Finish: Light, herbal, and mineral, but fairly long. Basin and lemongrass. Another hit of savouriness.
Possible SMWS bottling name: “A strategic application of rakes”
Conclusion: A nice showing from Ardnamurchan. It’s young and lean, but super drinkable and fresh with good complexity. Great coastal character. The superb mouthfeel brings this to another level relative to its peers.
Final Score: 83.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 