Ardnamurchan AD/The Midgie

48% ABV, Non-Chill Filtered, Natural Color. Nose: Fresh lemon and citrus peel, cinnamon, boiled ginger sweets, and a subtle sweet, resinous smoke – like spruce or pine wood. Palate: Creamy texture with notes of chocolate and biscuits – similar to chocolate digestive biscuits, salty grilled halloumi cheese with a faint sweet smoke lingering on the finish. I've enjoyed all the Ardnamurchan expressions I've tried so far. This particular one is a variation of the standard AD, incorporating madeira and sauternes casks into the existing bourbon and sherry cask blend. It's an annual UK experimental release in collaboration with the UK brand Smidge. I was fortunate to import this into North America through a UK retailer. Compared to the standard Ardnamuchan AD, which is easily comparable as they are very similar, the addition of wine casks adds more of a biscuit-like sweetness to the standard version while reducing the smoke. I do miss the peanut saltiness of the AD, which is a matter of personal preference. I would rate them the same, and the choice between this and the AD would depend on individual preference. I tend to favor savory notes, so I would lean towards the AD, but only slightly, as both are excellent for their price.

Ardnamurchan produces delightful whisky, and this one is no different. I bought this on sale for 30 Pounds plus shipping to the states, making the total cost around $60. It's a blend primarily of bourbon barrels around 8 years old, with one 7-year-old sherry cask, and two 6-year-old Madeira and Sauternes casks. It seems this was a UK-exclusive release in collaboration with a company called Smidge, which makes insect repellent. Fortunately, I don't believe any repellent made its way into the bottle. The main flavors for me are orange marmalade, salted caramel, rich milk chocolate, ginger, and a peat level that's perhaps a bit milder than you'd typically find in a Talisker. It tastes a bit sweeter than their standard releases, and the slightly higher alcohol content is a plus. The combination of fruity toffee and smoke is delicious. I recommend any Ardnamurchan, but this might be my favorite among those I've tried so far.

The nose offers smoke, wood, apple, and toasted bread. The palate features vanilla, apple, smoke, and wood.