The AD/Madeira Cask Release marries peated coastal malt with spirit aged in a blend of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry butts. The result is a robust, multi-layered dram brimming with tangy fruitcake, torched tropical notes, and a salty, bonfire-smoky core. At its heart, this whisky channels Ardnamurchan’s elemental west-coast character and the sun-soaked warmth of Jerez, delivering a richly textured, deeply flavorful experience at cask strength. As always, the release is unchill-filtered and bottled at natural colour to preserve every nuance.
This begins life in Ardnamurchan’s copper stills: a carefully measured mash of local barley, split roughly 50:50 between peated and unpeated spirit. After fermentation in carefully tended wooden and stainless washbacks, the spirit matures first in ex-American bourbon barrels and ex-Sherry butts, capturing honey-smoke and dried-fruit depth.
By combining these casks, the whisky gains a rare interplay of spice, tropical fruit, and oceanic brine. Cask strength bottlings ensure each bottle is a unique snapshot of maturation. It’s a daring expression that highlights Ardnamurchan’s boundary-pushing “without haste” ethos and deep respect for cask pedigree.
Pairing Suggestions: Spiced Portuguese chorizo skewers, grilled pineapple with cinnamon-honey glaze, or a rich blue-vein Stilton on toasted brioch.
Tasting Note: An intriguing mint leaf meets bonfire embers on a rugged beach with salted peanut ice-cream, sundried tomato and an umami-rich beef jerky with Brazil nutes. The palate gives tarry rope, smoky bacon, and peanut ,brittle with fruity notes of red plum and cherry. The finish shows Himalayan pink salt, cozy bothy fireplace, and the lingering scent of a vintage cigar shop.
Origin: Highland, Scotland
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