A new Ardnamurchan Cask Release and side dishes
The pile with Ardnamurchan samples was growing so this blog was in the planning for a while. And then came the news of a new Ardnamurchan distillery release. A new Madeira Cask Release hit the shelves just last week. I am keeping track of these very bang for your buck releases ever since the Sherry Cask Release blew me of my socks. That one already has multiple batches, and this Madeira is actually also a follow-up release to this one that still had the older appearance. I scored that one at 86 points, let us see what we think of the newer release, that is bottled at a more accessible abv. Furthermore, I add tasting notes for two releases that caught my eye last year.
Ardnamurchan 2018/AD, Madeira Cask Release, bottled at 52 % abv
First things first: No less than 19568 bottles were released from this Ardnamurchan from 2018 that was bottled on 22 January 2025. Thanks to the QR-code I know my bottle is number 172 and bottled by either Kelly Combe, Holly McCafferty or Reece Donaldson. The whisky first matured in standard bourbon barrels, with 38 casks being unpeated and 29 cask peated Ardnamurchan. The Madeira cask finish took 2 years of the 8 year total maturation time.
Upon Sipping: Madeira is a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of the same name. The influence on this Ardnamurchan is not too dominant, making for a balanced nosing experience, where I predominantly pick up a limestone freshness. Some berry fruitiness is distantly hidden. Taking a sip, the mouth is filled with a delicious, creamy, rich sweetness but exits on quite a hot stream of alcohol. A fiery peat lingers for a while. I think water will do this whisky good too, even though undiluted it is very muscled. The bitter nutty character from the Madeira is best felt on the finish. With water: the Madeira speaks louder, in a vinegary, flowery kind of way. Very exotic when mixed with the west coast highland malt style of smoky Ardnamurchan. The taste leans heavier on fruity sweetness now, and the creamy mouthfeel has turned more oily. On the finish, the peat smoke signature is allowed to have centre stage.
Word to the Wise: Very complex and multifaced Ardnamurchan. A step up from the more difficult Sauternes and Rum releases, both seeming less integrated than this Madeira Cask Release. The balance is impressive and the combination feels natural. Good effort here!
Score: 87 points
Ardnamurchan The Midgie, bottled at 48 % abv
First things first: A batch of 6200 bottles that were filled on 15 March 2024 (almost exactly one year ago). A release for the UK market created from vatting together Madeira & Sauterness casks, bourbon barrels and sherry casks.
Upon Sipping: I am sure there are a lot of midges on the rugged Ardnamurchan peninsula! This expression might soothe the pain of being bothered by them. The quite elaborate cask make-up makes for a interesting nosing. Every time I pick up the glass there is something new. Mostly yellow fruit, that seem to be the basis under it all, but there are also creamy and nutty notes. After a while, a more perfumy, floral aroma rises from the glass. Very amusing, but it feels a bit unstable. In the end there is also plain grain battling with smoke influences. Some sunflower oil and butter. Maybe this is not the best blending of different styles. Taking a sip, it is actually a strong vanilla flavour that dominates, on the finish however there is a lot of room for a peaty signature. With water, the nose releases a Cheese & Onion crisps smell that I like, but not in my whisky. The taste releases more sweetness, so I guess this is where the Madeira and Sauternes casks come into play. The finish looses some of its allure. Some unpleasant bitter tones remain.
Word to the Wise: All these different styles in one glass is entertaining, not making for the best result because of some imbalance, but the pleasure is undeniable. Fun whisky.
Thinking of midges, I remember camping once in Scotland. Sitting in front of your tent, a Poundland throwaway-after-one-use barbecue with sizzling apple-filled sausages on, and a bottle of Scotch nearby. This Ardnamurchan tastes like the memory is. Now that is good whisky!
Score: 83 points
Ardnamurchan 7 years old, bottled at 57,1 % abv by WhiskySponge
First things first: This was release number 100 by WhiskySponge, celebrated with Ardnamurchan that matured in a sherry octave and a refill sherry butt. It produced 534 bottles.
Upon Sipping: The finale of this session, with a nice abv to make an impact. The nose is really fresh and almost classic in nature, with red fruits, raisins and some tobacco leaves. Some wood smoke gives an extra edge to the offering. With some time and air, the red fruits get more talkative. Some goosebumps at the realization that Ardnamurchan is a modern distillery often displaying such an old and mature soul. What I also like, coming from roots in independent bottling, there is a lot of Ardnamurchan out there by fellow independents. We get a lot of variation, and this WhiskySponge expression is no exception. The wood gets louder with every letter I type here, emphasizing the fact an octave cask was used. I generally am not a fan of these small wood stamps. This Ardnamurchan also has a pressure-cooked feeling to it, that actually pushed the experience to an almost bourbon like experience. These very strong, high octane, 10+ years aged giants. That makes for a whole new experience of Ardnamurchan, and I love that.
With water: we get more nuances with marzipan, nuttiness and (milky) chocolate. Some caramel and you will find that on the taste buds as well. Oh my, this is turning into a whisky that I regret not buying a whole bottle from. The only downside is that water brings out a minty taste that manifests mostly on the finish, and I don’t really like. But that is not big enough to disturb the entire drinking experience of this delightful malt.
Word to the Wise: An excellent variation on the well-known Ardnamurchan character. We have to add, the casks do push out the spirit a little, but that was to be expected. It all comes together into a very interesting and rewarding single malt whisky.
Score: 88 points
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