Ardnamurchan is the most remote mainland distillery in Scotland, situated on the volcanic Ardnamurchan peninsula in the West Highlands. Built by Adelphi Distillery and opened in 2014, it draws its water from a private loch and generates its own electricity from a biomass boiler. The 10 Year Old — the distillery's first age-stated release — is a milestone that marks Ardnamurchan's transition from curiosity to credibility.
The whisky combines peated (48%) and unpeated (52%) spirit, matured predominantly in bourbon barrels (98%) with a tiny proportion of sherry casks (2%). It is bottled at 46.8%, non-chill filtered, with natural colour. The blend of peated and unpeated gives the whisky a character that is distinctly Ardnamurchan — neither fully smoky nor fully fruity, but a conversation between the two.
The nose offers orchard fruit, oyster shells, honey, and marzipan — a maritime, mineral quality that reflects the distillery's coastal position. The palate is more assertive than the nose suggests, with the peated component bringing smoke and earth alongside the unpeated spirit's honey, vanilla, and tropical fruit. The interplay is compelling and well-judged.
The finish is medium-long, with smoke and salt lingering alongside marzipan and oak. For a distillery of its age, Ardnamurchan is producing spirit of remarkable maturity and complexity. The 10 Year Old is not just a good whisky for a new distillery — it is a good whisky, full stop.
