Review #139 - Ardnamurchan AD/ 03.21:02
The first Ardnamurchan we've reviewed, but we've been a fan of this distillery for a couple of years - this distillery has gained a huge following recently, and the good reputation seems deserved, at least to us. Despite this being young, NAS whisky, all of the releases so far seem to be high quality and have solid character. Everything (including this bottle) is at 46.8% ABV or higher, and there's no use of artificial coloring or chill filtration - all good things.
This release is one of the earlier batched releases, before Ardnamurchan began releasing under a consistent entry-level label (the AD/ - we're looking at that one tomorrow). Let's decode this name: 03 is the month of March, 21 is the year 2021, and 02 is the batch number in the year. So this was the 2nd batch of Ardnamurchan spirit released in 2021, which was blended and bottled in the month of March. This is one of the earlier releases from the distillery - their inaugural batch release was in September 2020. Once their stocks reached a sustainable level and they had perfected a recipe, they ditched this naming convention in favor of the standard 'AD/.'
Like most of their core releases, this is a mixture of both peated and unpeated spirit, as well as ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. This might lead us to a balanced flavor profile, but we're also expecting some youth - most of the whisky in this bottle is probably four to six years old.
Ardnamurchan AD/ 03.21:02
Scotland/Highlands - Single Malt
Price Paid: USD 70 (2021)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 61 (2023 - for a comparable release)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 46.8% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 5 times over 12 months; bottles at 100%, 90% (blind tasting), 70%, 60%, and 40% (blind tasting) fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Where to start? This is a classic 'West Highland' single malt as we've come to know it: salt and sea spray, damp wood, heathery, a soft peat tickle; there's green moss, but also brighter fruits of lemon, lime candies, maybe some pear. Sweetness arrives from vanilla and creme brulee/burnt sugar, and there's just a hint of wine influence, but this seems heavy on the ex-bourbon maturation. The oak is subdued and musty, and there's a definite baking element: fresh baked bread, malty sugars, some chili powder or paprika. Occasional notes of honey, bitter butterscotch, and dried grass appeared in individual tastings.
Palate: Dry on the palate - a medium mouthfeel, with barrel spice, more oak, acidic lemon, and white pepper. Vegetal moss and dried grass were more prominent, and some of that oily coastal salt is woven into the whole experience. Baking spices of vanilla and cinnamon arrive in the mid palate, along with a light to medium peat smoke influence. More tart lemon: lemonade, tart lemon candies, and a little bit of spirity youth pokes through; later, a hint of lavender perfume and flowers, along with mild raisin and some yeasty character.
Finish: Medium length or so, oily and a pleasant warmth permeating the experience. Soft oak, still on the dry and acidic side, with apples and lemon, as well. There's a hint of malty milk chocolate, maybe some orange and prune fruits, but this stays generally dry: sawdust, white pepper, and a soft peat tickle lingers. At the end, an aftertaste of vanilla, cane sugar, and creme brulee brings back the faintest sweet side.
Final Note: This is a solid entry from a young distillery; actually, Ardnamurchan is going on 10 years old now, and they've becomes so celebrated in the whisky enthusiast community in the last couple of years, we almost can't call them newcomers. While there are soft reminders of youth in the palate, this whisky feels more mature than it likely is; we can't wait to see how this liquid tastes when there are 10 or 15 year old releases (we expect it will be sublime). Great character with the salt and pepper, sort of a coastal dryness, and the varying light fruits add a nice layer of complexity. Value is decent, or at least above average - it's on the more affordable side of NAS releases that these new distilleries are releasing these days.
Our Average Rating: 6.7 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.59
