Single cask Ardnamurchan single malt to wrestle with
Sometimes I wonder how (relatively) new distilleries handle the current downturn in Scotch sales. The big guns go silent first, and when we read about closures or reductions in production and letting go of staff, thus far it has not been the new names in the headlines. Perhaps we have to view it all in perspective. According to the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2026, Ardnamurchan for instance is projected to produce a little under 400.000 litres this year. Compare that to giant distilleries that produce in the multiple millions; a downturn is much easier felt there. Those small newcomers produce single malt for a knowledgeable crowd, not big blend products for people who throw it in their cola. A significant difference, right? I am sure we will continue to enjoy the well thought out products safely in the years to come. Let’s celebrate with two Ardnamurchan then.
Ardnamurchan AD/03:17 CK.207, bottled at 61,4 % abv
First things first: Mysteriously bottled as “The Order of the green Ardnamurchan (TOGA)”, this was presumably distilled in March 2017 and bottled in 2025. It matured in a First Fill Spanish Oak Ex-Oloroso Hogshead. Cask # 207 produced 313 bottles of unpeated Ardnamurchan.
Upon Sipping: These private casks you can see quite regularly, if you have friends in those circles. Let us taste another example of such an endeavour. The name of the bottle makes me think of something Harry Potter in style! On the nose, it is obviously rather beastly, like a cave troll on the hunt for a snack, shall we say. The nose holds the middle between olive juice, some red fruit and a hint of vinegar. Then some whiffs of orange marmalade. Quite hot to nose, but water will help later, first a sip. A sweet arrival first, very powerful on the sherry influence, but then it turns bone dry. I won’t proceed, time for a few drops to settle this Ardnamurchan down. Ah yes, that is a big improvement. More fruitiness on the nose, with the unwanted odours washed away. Strong apricot flavours, the dried variants in a plastic baggie that you can sneak into a meeting. On the palate, it is still sugary sweet and very nice, but there is a hard element that makes it a bit woody. The spices are very raw on this one, it causes unbalance. This cask would probably perform an important role in a batch, but on its own it is a little difficult.
Word to the Wise: Buying a cask at random from a distillery is always a gamble. This one is really too rough to deeply enjoy, and it needs a lot of doctoring with water. But water will also lay bare the weakness of a modern sherry cask. As it stands, it still offers a lot of fun, but this Ardnamurchan you need to play around with.
Score: 82 points.
Ardnamurchan 2019, bottled at 52,5 % abv for Whisky Import Nederland
First things first: A little younger than the previous sample, this Ardnamurchan was distilled on 1 March 2019 and bottled on 17 February 2025 for the Hielander in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. Cask # 1192 produced 144 bottles. Unpeated spirit in a First fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Hogshead.
Upon Sipping: It begs the question, was this diluted to the abv it states, as other single casks seem to sit much higher in their alcohol. In any case, fantastic deep golden brown colour, with a much more classic sherried nose compared to the TOGA. Leather belt, shoe polish, dark cherries and a hint of plum. On the palate, it is a tad bitter, leaning heavy on pure chocolate but mostly wood. Despite the more friendly abv, this is quite a hot dram. With some water, there is a surprising vanilla note, which then turns into strawberry cream. This element is also clear on the tongue on repeated sipping. It seems unnatural, but I like a strawberry flavour in whisky form.
Word to the Wise: Not without its flaws, but satisfying nonetheless.
Score: 84 points.