5 Facts You (Might) Not Know About Ardnamurchan Whisky

Since 2014, the Ardnamurchan distillery on the peninsula that shares its name has been in operation. Since its inception, the brand has been closely watched by a large audience from the whisky world. In 2020, the moment finally arrived: the first Ardnamurchan whisky was presented to the world. As is often the case with new players, everyone has an opinion, and for Ardnamurchan, the verdict was overwhelmingly positive.

The secret behind Ardnamurchan's success? Its parent company, the independent bottler Adelphi, has played a crucial role. Jamie Walker founded the company, Adelphi, in 1993. Since that time, many high-quality whisky casks have been purchased and bottled.

In 2004, Alex Bruce joined Adelphi and as a true connoisseur of quality and complex whiskies, he had ambitions far beyond just bottling the finest casks. In 2007, he conceived the idea to start a distillery of his own. Seven years later, Bruce's dream became a reality when he opened the doors of Ardnamurchan under the trusted wing of parent company Adelphi.

The primary ingredient of bread, pancakes, beer, and whisky is grain. When it comes to single malt, malted barley is an indispensable raw material. Notable brands like Laphroaig, Highland Park, or Talisker are quickly associated with the use of barley dried over peat fire. In contrast, distilleries known for smooth, mellow flavors such as Linkwood, Macallan, and Glenmorangie opt for unpeated barley.

Ardnamurchan chooses the best of both worlds. They work with both peated and unpeated barley. It's not just one master distiller manipulating the stills, but a team of six ensures the optimal combination of peated and unpeated barley is found to craft the tastiest whiskies. The products speak for themselves: a balanced smokiness within a complex, quality dram.

Ardnamurchan pioneers in the whisky world with respect to innovation and sustainability. In collaboration with technology company Arc-Net, the Scottish distillery uses blockchain technology to provide transparency about their whiskies. You can use a QR code to access all information about your Ardnamurchan whisky – from the plot where the barley was cultivated, to the barrels used, and the person who bottled your whisky.

Beyond innovation, a strong focus is also laid on sustainability. Bruce wanted to make it clear with his Ardnamurchan distillery that whisky production and leaving a minimal ecological footprint can go together hand in hand. They harness energy from solar panels, biomass, and generate electricity from a hydroelectric generator situated at the water source. Moreover, over 50% of their bottles are made from recycled glass, the staff ride in electric cars, and they partner with the local community to positively influence income, job opportunities, nature, and the futures of children.

It’s evident that Ardnamurchan is one of the promising new distilleries in Scotland. The first release was very well received and in the following years many of their bottlings were praised. Over the years, there have been outstanding standard expressions, single casks, and potent cask strength releases. They have also produced a diverse range of whiskies with finishes in sherry or wine casks, like the unique Paul Launois series.

After a decade of waiting, it finally happened last year: Ardnamurchan's 10-Year-Old was released. This is a milestone for any young distillery. Again, casks from Paul Launois champagne were used. Bruce and his team can proudly blow out ten candles, as the 10-year-old Ardnamurchan adds another flavorful, high-quality whisky to their core range.

Apart from delicious single malts, Ardnamurchan also produces a blended Scotch whisky named Maclean’s Nose. This name refers to a hill close to the distillery that rises from the sea. The hill is featured on the label of every bottle of Maclean’s Nose. It also alludes to the nose of Charles MacLean, who also evaluated the casks from Adelphi.

Maclean’s Nose is highly affordable and, according to yours truly, very tasty. It's a blend comprising 30% grain whisky from Girvan and 70% from two distilleries. One of them is, unsurprisingly, Ardnamurchan, but the other isn't explicitly identified. The strong rumor is that the blend is topped off with single malt whisky from Glen Scotia.