Ardnamurchan AD/ Paul Launois Release 2023 57.1%

Ardnamurchan AD/ Paul Launois Release 2023 57.1%

2023 Release by Ardnamurchan AD/ Paul Launois, once again celebrates the collaboration between the West Highland distillery and one of Champagne's star producers. This 2023 edition is the third annual release of Ardnamurchan Paul Launois and, as before, this is a limited edition release (Very limited) – only 2,676 bottles, with a strength of 57.1% alcohol – consisting of unpeated Ardnamurchan whiskey distilled in 2016 and converted to ten ex-Paul Launois champagne casks of different char levels, plus a normal ex-bourbon cask from the same vintage for balance.

Scent: Sour orange glaze, rum and raisin ice cream and salted caramel. Lemon curd, orange blossom, pencil shavings, wine gums and Sauternes. A gentle wave of lemon thyme and powdered lemonade.
Taste: Rich, dry wood character up front with macadamia nut, citric acidity from the nose still coming through. Nutmeg, peach, crème de cacao, sharp vanilla and light Szechuan peppercorns tickle the palate.
Aftertaste: Dry up front, changing to moderately lush fruity mid-palate with lightning-fast acidity on the finish. Long.

These are always popular releases, so don't hesitate if you want one.

About the Distillery

The Ardnamurchan Distillery is located on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in the West of Scotland. It is a relatively new player in the single malt whiskey world and was founded in 2014 by Adelphi Distillery Ltd. The distillery is known for its focus on traditional production methods and the use of locally produced ingredients. They produce their own malt using malted barley, yeast and the clean spring water from the area.

Ardnamurchan Distillery prides itself on crafting whiskey with care and attention to detail, and they aim to express the unique terroir of the area in their spirits. Their first releases of single malt whiskey began to hit the market around 2016 and they are known for having a distinctive balance of fruity, spicy and smoky notes in their whiskies.

Ardnamurchan The Green Distillery

Whiskey is a natural product and they have ensured that this is reflected in the way they run the distillery. Uniquely in the whiskey industry, all the necessary energy and heat for Ardnamurchan Distillery comes from local renewable energy sources – the river that supplies cooling water to the distillery has a hydroelectric generator, and the biomass boiler uses wood chips from local forests as fuel – the distillery's overall environmental footprint is therefore modest.

In addition, the by-products of the whiskey-making process are recycled on the peninsula – the still-energetic "draff" (remains in the mash tank) is combined with "pot ale" to produce animal feed for use on the peninsula.