Ardnamurchan AD/09.22 + AD/08:18 cask 1058

TIme to review more whisky from Ardnamurchan, the distillery started by Adelphi in 2014. We start with the limited edition cask strength Ardnamurchan AD/09.22 released a while ago. This is a combination of peated and unpeated whisky, matured in bourbon and sherry casks until September 2022.

 

Ardnamurchan AD/09.22 2016 Cask Strength (58,4%, OB 2022, bourbon + sherry casks, 13.460 btl.)

Nose: austere and creamy at the same time. Vanilla custard with hints of lemon peels and green apples. Sweet and mild peat. Then gristy notes, some peppery oak, even a slightly floral edge, as well as butter biscuits, almonds and a good dose of ginger. Fairly high acidity, I get that often with Ardnamurchan.

Mouth: really peppery, with nutmeg and ginger closely behind. Hints of barley eau-de-vie, a light chalky texture, with herbs and salinity towards the end. Then a big wave of dry and savoury smoke and roasted nuts, dough and lemon candy, moving towards lemon zest.

Finish: long and dry, with more chalk and wood spice. Cold ashes, sea salt and the bitterness of citrus rind.

This AD is fairly young, with a fierce spicy layer and some astringency. Not quite there yet, in my opinion, in line with wath I thought of AD/09.20:01. Hard to get.

 

Next up: a single cask exclusive to The Whisky Exchange. This spirit is made from Golden Promise barley, matured in a first-fill Oloroso cask. I noticed the label mentions CASK 1058 whereas previous editions said CK. and then the cask number. As you know, I’m not a fan of the cryptic naming, but if you invent this kind of structure, using it consistently would be a good idea.

 

Ardnamurchan AD/08:18 2018 (59,1%, OB cask #1058 for The Whisky Exchange 2024, first-fill Oloroso sherry butt #1058, 702 btl.)

Nose: quite savoury, with a dirty side that I’m not fond of. Lots of caramelized nuts and sweaty leather. It settles down after twenty minutes or so, loosing some of the funk. Still hints of diacetyl (butter) and roasted chestnuts. Then dried apricots and red berry candy, as well as a pleasant whiff of herbal tea, lemon and dried peppermint.

Mouth: same style, with spiced chocolate and leafy notes, although the tart lemony / gingery spirit also adds freshness. Pepper and peppermint, a little green oak, coffee schnapps and hints of bacon lacquer. Then also earthy notes and orange peels.

Finish: quite long and drying, on cigar leaves, porridge, earth and cranberries.

The dirty character of the sherry cask reminds me of TWE’s April Fool whisky in 2022. A whisky with a couple of nice elements but also a things that are less to my liking. Now exclusively available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 81/100