Ardnamurchan Spirit 2016 AD is the first release from Ardnamurchan Distillery, a new distillery in Glenbeg, Scotland by independent bottlers Adelphi.
Ardnamurchan Spirit 2016 AD – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
The Ardnamurchan Distillery is situated on the shores of Loch Sunart, at the most westerly point of the British mainland. It opened in July 2014 and began producing two signature single malts, peated and unpeated. The spirits are currently maturing in American and European oak, ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon casks until ready.
Ardnamurchan Spirit 2016 AD is the first spirit released and it cannot be called whisky as it is not 3 years of age yet. “AD” marks both the name of the distillery and “Anno Domini”. Bottled at 50.3% ABV, the spirit is a vatting of 29 ex-Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks filled with (14) peated and (15) unpeated spirit finished in ex-Pedro Ximénez Sherry butts for an additional three months. The spirit exhibits youthful characteristics with a lot of potential. There’s a notable sherry influence, nuttiness, creaminess and a balance of sweetness with dry oak.
The slate grey bottle represents the volcanic past of the Ardnamurchan peninsula with a hydrometer-shaped window that gives a glimpse into the spirit. The words represent the key characteristic of the distillery and the spirit production: Concerto Barley, Broomhall Farm, Glenmore Spring, Renewable Energy, Long Fermentation, Slow Distillation, Oloroso, PX, Identifiable, Unpronounceable.
Only 2,500 bottles have been released worldwide with only a few available in Australia priced around $200.
This article was originally published on May 5, 2017 on our sister website Gourmantic.
