Ardnamurchan AD/09:15 CK.632

The aroma is rich and robust, beginning with dark chocolate ganache, honey-glazed caramelized peaches, and subtle campfire smoke, followed by figgy pudding, light espresso, and coastal rocky minerality. It then moves to pear tart, musty grapes, and candied orange peel, transitioning into gentle baking spices and sandalwood with a moderate alcohol burn. The taste offers a rich, velvety texture, starting with notes of Black Forest cake, honey-drizzled caramelized peaches, and moderate campfire smoke. This is followed by dark chocolate-covered raisins, light espresso, and seaside rocky minerality, then musty grapes, cantaloupe, and charred pineapple, before concluding with mild baking spices and sandalwood, accompanied by a moderate alcohol burn. The finish is lengthy, beginning with creamy tropical fruits, honeycomb, and light smoke, which recede into a blend of Black Forest cake, espresso, and coastal rocky minerality, before mild baking spices and sandalwood emerge. This is a rich, syrupy pour with bold flavors, featuring creamy chocolates, caramelized fruits, gentle peat smoke, coastal rocky minerality, and unique spices, all expertly harmonized with few harsh notes, leaving a finish that lingers for several minutes. I'm truly amazed by this dram, and the increase in alcohol content from 46.8% ABV in the 01:21:01 batch to 59.8% ABV in the 09:15 CK.632 has significantly enhanced the experience. Personally, I favor the higher alcohol content for its intensified flavors, but I'd be pleased to have both strengths available for moments when I desire a less potent option during warmer weather. Based on a quick online search, the cask-strength versions cost about $90, and the lower ABV versions are around $70 in the USA. I believe both are very reasonably priced for the quality and depth of flavor they deliver. Thank you to a generous friend for the samples to explore Ardnamurchan; I was unaware of what I was missing and will need to acquire several bottles from this exceptional distillery to delve deeper.

It might be a bit unfair to sample this after a fantastic 22-year-old Laphroaig, but that's the situation. It offers fudge, smoke, and earthy peat with a mild ethanol presence. It's sweet and slightly youthful. A great dram for the price; this is certainly a distillery worth watching.

Pleasant mouthfeel, medium viscosity. The peat is well-balanced with the mild sweetness from the Oloroso cask. Great ABV. Medium to longer finish. Overall, a surprisingly well-balanced dram.

Alcohol by volume is 59.8%