Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask 2024

Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask 2024

Region: Highlands

ABV: 59.0%

Price: £68.00

This eight-year-old Ardnamurchan, made with 100% unpeated spirit, was initially matured in twenty two ex-Bourbon casks for 5.5 years before spending 30 months in ex-Sauternes wine barriques. A limited release of 5,990 bottles is available worldwide.

Nose

On the nose, this whisky has initial aromas of pear drops, limeade, a bready yeast scent, ground almonds, and macarons. With a little patience, it starts to open up, revealing sugar syrup, cashew nuts, pineapple, green grapes, limoncello, warehouse must, and brown sugar. It's a pleasant nose, with the distillery character still noticeable behind the Sauternes.

Palate

On the palate, this whisky starts with treacle and burnt brown sugar, giving it an almost syrupy consistency. Slight tobacco notes are followed by black pepper and an undercurrent of citrus, reminiscent of sherbet. The mouthfeel is satisfying, with a medium finish that is quite dry and savoury. There is however enough sweetness to keep the finish balanced. With patience, flavours of fudge and pineapple emerge.

Nose (with water)

Adding water to the nose brings out more warehouse must, along with strawberry laces, lemon sherbet sweets, and apricot. The water seems to enhance the sweetness, revealing additional notes of pineapple and papaya, which contribute to a much more tropical profile.

Palate (with water)

With water, the palate remains quite treacle-like and syrupy, similar to how it is without water. The mouthfeel and finish are unaffected. There are more citrus notes, but the overall change isn’t significant.

Conclusion

Ardnamurchan rarely disappoints, and we’re happy to say that this hasn’t changed with this release. It’s a savoury and sweet that dram, that has backbone of distillery character behind some interesting cask notes. We’re fans.

Score: 8/10

Value

£10 Cheaper than the Paul Launois release this year.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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