Ardnamurchan 2017 AD/Cask Strength Release 2025

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Ardnamurchan - Highlands

90% Bourbon Barrels and 10% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

I had already tasted a previous Batch of the Cask Strength Release, the first, which dates back to 2023, bearing in mind that there had been previous Cask Strength bottlings in 2022 and 2023. I enjoyed it, but found that the palate was still a little light. This edition, the third, follows the same recipe as the previous ones, 90% Bourbon Barrels, 10% Sherry casks, 87% barley peated at 30 ppm, 13% unpeated barley. This time, however, the distillate is older: the two Sherry casks used were aged for 8 years, and the Bourbon casks were filled in 2016 and 2017. The whole product is therefore at least 7 years old. 12911 bottles were sold.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fairly dry peat, warm bitumen and gravel, with a hint of chalk and iodine, creamy vanilla sprinkled with citrus fruit, lemon, pineapple, yellow plums and ripe mirabelles. Milk chocolate, filled with salted butter caramel, sultanas and braised nuts. On the palate, the peat is more discreet, the whole is creamy and pulpy, light touches of red fruit, woody cereals, exuberant spices, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper. The finish is long but not aggressive, dark chocolate and dried figs, cola, earthy roots, shortbread biscuits, lemon pie.

 

In Short, 

It's a great success, the balance is perfect between the predominant Bourbon, which enhances the more mature distillate, and the peat and Sherry, which add character, depth and fruit. On the palate, it's now very solid. However, I don't have the same sensation as with the 2023 edition, which I found full of character and boiling with power. Here, it's more measured, balanced and controlled. There's less costality too. So I don't know if I prefer it. In any case, a purchase seems like a very good idea, given that the price is more than correct.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Searows - Dearly Missed