Ardnamurchan ad/07.21 :04

As there are no prior assessments, I've put together a thorough description to help people understand what to anticipate. Nose: Features notes of vanilla/creme brulee, lavender/heather, and rich honey. It's reminiscent of a Speyside but possesses greater complexity and a spicy kick at the conclusion. Palate: The spice becomes more prominent, followed by vanilla cream soda, butterscotch, honey, and a hint of salt. The salt and spice prevent the flavor from becoming overly sweet. This spirit has a slight peat influence, imparting a subtle smokiness that integrates smoothly into the background. Its earthiness is quite pleasing. Finish: Spice returns on the finish, creating a cycle of spice-to-honey/lavender-back-to-spice from the initial taste to the end. Smoke is more apparent here, resembling barrel char rather than a peat fire. Overall: Upon reviewing the details of this spirit (available via a QR code on the bottle), I noted it's a blend of 5- and 6-year-old casks. This accounts for some of the distinct spiciness and limited flavor spectrum, but much like with certain other whiskies, skillful distillation and cask selection significantly compensate for its youth. Aware that this is a nascent distillery committed to sustainability and community engagement prompted my purchase, aiming to support their efforts with tempered hopes. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The spirit has a distinctive character, and I value that, for a new distillery, they avoided heavy reliance on peat or sherry to compensate for limited aging. Considering its $55 price point, I find it to be a fair deal given its considerable character. Should this distillery continue to produce at this level, they will rival the established players within the next 6-7 years.

I don't always crave peated whisky. But sometimes when the desire strikes, anything not peated seems bland. It's as if I develop a specific craving for peat and need to search the whisky collection or stored samples for anything smoky, briny, vegetal, tarry, or iodic. During this intense search for peat, I might also explore new whiskies. I had been intrigued by this distillery but had avoided it, mostly thinking it was too young and not peaty enough. However, after a few recent recommendations, I decided to try it. Overall, I'm pleased I did. On the nose, lemon, honey, a fairly light hint of peat. Based on the aroma, I don't anticipate this satisfying my craving. On the palate, however, the peat plays a more significant role. It's not the main focus, but it definitely has a noticeable presence. Pear, honey, lemon custard, candied ginger, and somewhat vegetal and smoky peat. The peat comes across as more campfire smoke than briny, but there's a touch of salt present too. I wouldn't have guessed it's only 5-6 years old, but I will say that compared to Kilkerran 12, (which seems to have a similar peat level), the Ard seems somewhat less polished. This might be an unfair comparison, but the last bottle of Kilkerran I purchased was only about $10 more expensive. Of course, whisky prices have risen overall, and the Kilkerran now appears to be $90+, so $59 for this seems like a fair value now. In fact, I enjoyed it enough that I bought the cask strength version, which I haven't tried yet, but from what I understand it has more peat and is nearly 60% ABV. Must keep that peat craving at bay. Cheers!

Appearance: Evokes a late afternoon sky. Smell: Peaty aroma reminiscent of heather, gentle wood smoke, and ripe apricots. Hints of lemon peel and pine pine emerge. Taste: Lively and full on the palate, featuring red berries, subtle caramel, and a glaze of salmon; fruit compotes lead into smoky grilled notes. Aftertaste: A satisfying dryness with earthy undertones and a woody, botanical essence. With a drop of water: The aroma becomes campfire treats on baked crackers, while the taste mellows to honey, and the finish develops a profound savory depth. Excellent.

Honestly, I had this right after a Jamaican rum which may have ruined my taste buds. Nose: Peat, melon (cantaloupe?), candied something (bacon perhaps?), and VANILLA Palate: Sweet peat. Honey & minor spice. Vanilla & a dash of salt. Finish: Sweet honey notes linger. And the peat. Overall, it's a little thin to me & isn't overly complex. It reminds me a bit of a Lagavulin (in a good way).

Very smooth with a slight touch of peat. Easy to drink.