Whisky Names Explained: Ardnamurchan The Midgie

Monday, 18 August 2025 at 15:10

Scotland is abundant with intriguing stories: from myths to tales of improbable creatures that often end up on whisky bottles. Sometimes these tales are extravagant, but not all the time. Take Ardnamurchan The Midgie. This is where the name of the whisky originates.

Nothing says Scotland like mountains, rain, damp weather and whisky. Along with these four elements, there's another word that is associated with Scotland: midgies. Arnamurchan Distillery has created with The Midgie a story about a minuscule creature that might sound made-up, but is anything but nonsense. What exactly is a midgie then?

Before we answer that question, let us first clarify where the name Ardnamurchan comes from.

A name up for debate

Ardnamurchan Distillery lies halfway through the eponymous peninsula in a small village called Glenbeg. The name of the distillery is directly derived from the peninsula where the distillery has been creating whisky for years. But what does that name actually mean?

There's some dispute over this among linguists. The literal translation from Scottish Gaelic can mean two things:

'Promontory of the great sea'
'Highland of the seals'

Both names would make sense, as Arnamurchan is a peninsula. Moreover, seals are a common sight on the peninsula.

There's no doubt about the name of The Midgie whisky from the brand. Time to dive into that.

A pint-sized pest

A midgie, or midge, is a small biting insect that primarily exists in damp areas. Midges often inhabit marshes, lakes and forested environments and can be found across Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, and Canada.

These tiny creatures are closely related to mosquitoes, only they are much smaller than those pests that consistently buzz us out of our slumber. Midges often range from 1 to 3 millimeters in size and are mostly active during the day.

But don't let the size fool you: a bite from a midgie (especially the females bite) is painful and causes swelling and redness. Some people even experience allergic reactions to midgie bites, resulting in larger and even more painful bumps.

Fortunately, that doesn't apply to all midgies: The Midgie from Ardnamurchan doesn't cause any painful bumps, assuming you drink responsibly, of course.

What is the Ardnamurchan The Midgie whisky?

The special whisky release from Ardnamurchan is a mix of pure craftsmanship and a dash of wit. The whisky was created in collaboration with Smidge, a brand of mosquito repellents.

It's a summery single malt whisky with a fruity and refreshing flavor profile. For instance, the 2025 release of the whisky has the following tasting notes:

Nose: Gammon ham with roasted pineapple, plums and salt. Further strawberry jam on salty crackers, almond oil, coconut macaroon and green mint.
Palate: Salty pear, meadowsweet, wildflowers, lemon thyme, sultanas, cherry wood, cocoa powder and pink pepper.
Finish: Dry and long with a hint of smoke, salt and red currant syrup.

Ardnamurchan has for the first time not only released the 2025 edition of The Midgie in the United Kingdom, but also beyond, such as in the Netherlands. The release of the whisky has, however, remained limited.

Fun Fact: The midgie that adorns the bottle of the Ardnamurchan The Midgie whisky does have a name: Myrtle McItchy.