Brand new Ardnamurchan Mezcal and a single cask
Two new Ardnamurchan landed on the doorstep, so I have to make a special blog about that. There is no denying I am a big fan of this peninsula Highland distillery, that almost features as a missing link between Ben Nevis and Springbank. I have yet to taste a disappointing release, and I think that explains why I follow new releases with dedicated pleasure. Today we taste the newest instalment of the cask release series, which is a Mezcal influenced expression. Remember, Mezcal has only been legalized as a vessel for maturation for whisky since a few years. We once tasted a fantastic Mezcal release of Lagavulin for the Islay Jazz Festival.
The second bottle of this blog is a single cask that was selected by Adelphi. This independent bottlers is of course at the root of the Ardnamurchan Distillery. When they select a single cask, it is like Cadenhead’s releasing a Springbank. It can go either way: they found something out of the ordinary, perhaps a-typical, that warrants a standalone release, or something so damn good they just had to bottle it. Let’s find out!
Ardnamurchan AD/Mezcal cask release, bottled at 55 % abv
First things first: Exactly 4.968 bottles were filled of this Mezcal cask edition. Made of Concerto barley, this batch contains only peated Ardnamurchan that matured since 2017 in American Standard barrels that previously held mezcal.
Upon Sipping: Immediately fresh on the heels of agave, so no mistaking on the mezcal influence here. I really love this meaty, fierce, slightly industrious smell. It makes for quite the interesting complexity, even if it comes off straightforward initially. Somehow, mezcal seems to fit whisky, where tequila does not. The taste is equally impressive and the palate is soon engulfed by the agave taste. These casks were not modest, to say the least. It leaves a sticky, fat, toffee like feeling long after swallowing, even though the finish itself is quite gentle. After a while, some hot alcohol pops up, like a ghostly apparition on the Day of the Dead. The whisky develops well in the glass, releasing some smoke, light peat, and vanilla after a while, mixed with wet grass after a refreshing rain storm. Undiluted, the taste is really devoid of sweet fruits and keeps on leaning towards olives (also fruit of course, but you catch my drift) and minerals. These minerals become more pronounced when you add a few drops of water. On the taste, I then pick up some light banana mousse.
Word to the Wise: Impressive release by Ardnamurchan, one of the better expressions after the Sauternes and Madeira, and those were already very okay. The mezcal is very present, so you have to like that. Romantic me sees in this a bridging bottle between two types of distillate.
Score: 89 points.
Ardnamurchan 10 years old, bottled at 57,1 % abv by Adelphi
First things first: First fill oloroso sherry butt # 338 matured for 10 years since 2014, and yielded 658 bottles. That is impressive output at exactly 100 proof. We are seeing more and more mature Ardnamurchan now, exciting!
Upon Sipping: This smells like a classic sherried whisky. I am guessing this was a proper cask, and not one that was just seasoned. Maybe I’m wrong. Anyway, this Adelphi selection is not unlike other Ardnamurchan single casks I have sampled, like this one by 12Barrels. In fact, it is very close and that is good news! Red fruits, soft wood that could be so old that you put a dent in it with your finger if you press too hard. Some other smells are in the limestone and nectarines with mulberries mix. Bullseye bottling, this one. The palate is pleasantly covered in a layer of sweetness when you take a sip, even though the alcohol starts getting hotter and hotter. It is interesting to notice a more bitter note towards and on the finish. Since most Ardnamurchan we taste has not yet reached the age of 10 years, we most times get the spirit that does the talking, or the exotic finish. But now, with maturity, a new asset comes into play, and it is interesting to see how Ardnamurchan will start to behave with more wood impact. I added some water, but that does not seem to match exactly, even though it brings out a pleasant soft nectarine note.
Word to the Wise: Ardnamurchan is truly entering a new phase on the path to maturity. Adelphi is paving the way with a single cask from the distillery they started, showing us the whisky is ready to embark on this journey. I will gladly keep an eye on the progress, and report back to you here.
Score: 89 points.
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