Ardnamurchan AD/10

Very fruity nose with lots of creamy vanilla and pineapple. Taste is inviting and fresh. Balanced summer dram. Slightly drying finish. Good stuff all around. Priced to open and enjoy!

Quite a tasty 10 year old! I can't detect any flaws, to be honest. It is friendly and silky, on fruit, soft woody and earthy notes, with some nuts and a lot of waxiness. And... it's at a great drinking strength.

Well made whisky! 87,5

gewoon lekker fruitig. beetje vijg en roodfruit

Good mix of wood and sherry. Very spicy, Smokey, sherry, pepper. Apples and fruits. Very tasty

Quite solid first 10yo expression from my favourite young distillery. Do not expect a cask bomb whisky like many of their nas expressions, bourbon and ex-Paul Launois casks just let their beautiful new make shine on its own.

Aroma-86/100; Palate-86/100; Finish-86/100.

[84~87] nice, there is something to discover, purchase incentive only if the price-enjoyment ratio is good :-)

An interesting whisky, which took time to make sense of. As I’m not an Ardnamurchan maximalist, I have so far mostly tried younger and at least mildly peated versions. A whisky that is ‘of age’ was always going to be a bit of a shock to the system - and perhaps a disappointment, at least initially. Indeed, at first contact you’re left wondering where the big west coast waxy-mineral complex of the distillate is - this is very different from the Ardnamurchans I’ve tried. Now that I’m a third of the way down the bottle, it’s definitely won me over, and feels like it might keep growing on me still. Ignoring any expectations and taking it for what it is - this is a wonderfully eloquent coastal whisky. Unpeated, but still delivering an intensely salty maritime impression, with rich tropical fruits and a life-like beehive effect of honey, pollen and bitter propolis. The European oak finish adds an obvious level of complexity, it feels well executed if rather designed. I tasted the 2023 cask strength version right after this, which is younger, peated and from much less obvious casks. I really wish we could have tasted this without the finish - the distillate is so good I wouldn’t think we’d need it. That said, the end result would probably have been very sweet, but there’s “sweetness” and then there’s sweetness… Sweet notes in an inherently dry spirit never gave anyone diabetes!

Another top product from this "new" distillery! Nice fruity notes and slightly sour and dry (champagne?). Nice creation!

The contribution of the champagne barriques is very noticeable when drinking, perhaps a little too much, with a mark that disrupts the elegant complexity of the nose. It remains interesting and very drinkable, but it could have been much more.

Irish session with perks, 24Aug2025: Ardnamurchan 10yo OB AD/10 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/261836/ardnamurchan-ad10 87- Hazelburn 10yo OB (20/138) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/182579/hazelburn-10-year-old 88- An Irish Distillery 10yo CA 2006 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/137085/an-irish-distillery-2006-ca 87+ Enigma 10yo CA Irish Single Malt https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/270501/single-malt-irish-whisky-10-year-old-ca 88- Redbreast 21yo OB (2018) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/122504/redbreast-21-year-old 89- Distilled in Ireland 21yo BW https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/261418/distilled-in-ireland-21-year-old-bw 88+

After tasting Ardnamurchan AD/07.21:05 and being mesmerized, I felt I needed another bottle of Ardnamurchan to get a better sense of the distillery. I got hold of the Cask Strength version, plus two bottles finished in exotic casks: this one and the Mezcal-finished one. Of the three, I have only opened this one, and it is a total disappointment. Aroma: White wine. Then more white wine. Then yeasty bread, vegetal vanilla, white pepper, raw ginger. Finally, the much admired Ardnamurchan profile, which I would describe as leathery lemon peel, beef broth, dusty barnyard, oily honey, mineral saltiness, sweet herbs and farm-yard malt. This wonderful distillery character is sadly buried behind a thick wall of white wine. Taste: Layer upon layer of white wine. Also extremely astringent, very nutty (bitter almond) and woody (bourbon-style). Absurdly spicy and dry, a peppery disaster. It tastes literally like chewing white-grape skins, a tannic overload. Then come waves of strong vanilla, sweet barley, lemon cake and pineapple. Far away, lonely and rejected, a fleeting trace of Ardnamurchan’s character that somehow escaped the wreck. Finish: Oh no. Rancid, warm white wine. Have you ever had someone spill a lot of white wine and nobody cleaned it up? That weird, off-putting, stinging smell of stale white wine slowly oxidizing and evaporating. Mix that with the dry, tannic sensation left by chewing white-grape skins for too long, and you have this finish. I honestly do not get it. To make it worse, it is very long, intense and quite sticky, and water makes it even worse. Grape-forward, astringent, spicy, nutty sweet, salty, with heaps of vanilla, fresh fruit and white pepper. Absurdly aromatic, closer to a white wine (or many other non-distilled alcoholic beverages) than to the average whisky. It feels as if it skipped the refining stage that distillation is supposed to provide, it is that raw and intense. A white wine bomb, if such thing exists. Extremely white-wine forward, you can taste the white-grape skins in your mouth for hours. In Spain there is a tradition of eating 12 white grapes in the last 12 seconds of the year (“las 12 campanadas”), which forces you to have far too many grape skins in your mouth at once, and drinking this whisky strongly reminds me of that unpleasant experience. Every nuance of white-grape skin is here, whether you like it or not. Very saturated, in the same way Springbank 10 is saturated with aromas and flavors. Very viscous, oily and dense. This whisky seems to contain a non-trivial amount of oils, bubbles linger suspiciously long, and it leaves the mouth coated with a tannic, fruity, slightly rancid residue. On the other hand, it also has the feel of micro-batch, Raasay-levels of micro-artisanal experimentation, which makes it fascinating. But a whisky should also be enjoyable, right? This might not be my favourite profile at all, but it is definitely a fun and interesting whisky for sharing. Everyone I have introduced it to has a strong opinion about it, which makes it a great conversation starter. Maybe being this experimental with their first 10-year-old was a bold move that I simply do not understand, but it is without doubt unique. If I were more into white wine and had a much greater tolerance for raw, spicy oak, this could easily become one of my favourites. If you really enjoy white wine or white-wine-finished whisky, this could be a life-changing experience. I am not immune to its charm, but I cannot endorse it. The best I can say is that I can tolerate it. It is wildly experimental and, from my point of view, simply too strange. It pushes boundaries even further than other eccentric and/or experimental Scotches, such as Loch Lomond. It sits far outside the conventional Scotch flavour map. In summary: it is seriously flawed in three key ways: it is entirely unpeated, the finish is mismatched and makes everything worse, and the liquid is over-oaked. The general high quality of the spirit can’t make up for it, at all. Barely drinkable.

No, in my opinion, this is a weak, low-level whisky. An abundance of alcohol, a Soviet fusel port - these are my impressions of this "not whisky" to my taste. 20 19 18 18

So, I've had this one a few times now, but I just can't warm to it. Too brittle, too abstract for me. I find the bottlings with a light peat content much more interesting than this unpeated one. It's undeniably a good spirit with character, but perhaps it's simply not for me.

That nose though! The Ardnamurchan AD/10 couldn't deliver entirely on that early promise, but is undeniably high-quality distillate from one of Scotland's best new wave distilleries

Remarkable Distillates, 27Dec2024: Kilkerran 8yo CS#2 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/104377/kilkerran-08-year-old 87+ Ardnamurchan 10yo AD/10 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/261836/ardnamurchan-ad10 87- Daftmill 2011 Summer Batch Release https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/248665/daftmill-2011 87+ Daftmill 2010 Cask Strength https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/196457/daftmill-2010 87- Daftmill 15yo 2006 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/206405/daftmill-2006 89+ Bunnahabhain 2002 Wy Salted Caramel Flapjack https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/130819/bunnahabhain-2002-wy 87+

It's a bit of a shame that Ardnamurchan chose a Champagne Vin Clair finish for their first 10 year old bottling. Certainly well done, no question. But the Madeira, Sherry and Sauternes bottlings of the last few months have all performed better.

A decent 10-year-old whisky, at a reasonable price, slightly spicy and tingling on the tongue, but with fruit and notes of honey. It will do fine as a Daily Dram. Unfortunately I won't buy a bottle because I'm not a fan of this type of whisky. I'm glad I could taste a sample.

NOSE- pineapple, grapefruit, yellow apple, honey, malted barley, Scottish gingerbread, PALATE- pineapple, pears, golden syrup, ginger, nutmeg, salt, malted barley, pastry, salt & sour combination- like salt on grapefruit FINISH- oak stronger, astringency from lemon, cinnamon and clove, a wee bit of golden syrup lingering , long

Very, very nice dram! Interesting and engaging, rewarding those who have the patience to allow it to open up. Profile is relatively on the cask-heavy side but the balance is still maintained. Due to the lack of peat and fresh fruit flavors it falls outside the usual Ardnamurchan style but I like that. Being a one-off release and not core-range I think that distillery team has done an excellent job to give as a great dram worthy of the 10 years milestone. Decent value at a price of around 70 euros. I managed to pick a bottle for less than 50 euros and at this price it's a no brainer.

85,00

I’ve had the bottle for while now, and it wasn’t a blind buy. I had this at a whisky festival prior, and I remembered it as one of the standout new drams I tried. As I got to know this expression better, it sure didn’t disappoint. To me this shines in a few ways. First of all, it’s a mostly fresh distillate forward whisky. There is a clear cask influence, but it doesn’t overpower the liquid at all. Second, the type of cask influence offers something relatively unique compared to other whiskies. Third, it has a nice balance between sweet, fruit and slight minerals and bitterness. Not too difficult, not too boring. It’s quite different from other -more rugged- Ardnamurchans I’ve tried, but so what? I welcome them trying out different stuff, especially if it comes out as well as this one. Class act, solid 88 for me, and one of my go to bottles for the last few months.

Buttery, honeyed, fruity nose with pear and pineapple syrup, a little mango, candied vanilla Unique, fresh mouth, on white wine, a little salty, pears in juice again with mango, malt at the end with the roasted sensation Vanilla finish, on the stone, the fruits in syrup the champagne barrel, a first for me.

The nose is far ahead of what actually follows. Nevertheless, this is a solid, well-made, and fairly priced whisky (up to 70 Euros). I will have to keep an eye on Ardnamurchan also in the future, as it seems to have great potential.

My complete blog to be found on www.longpouramour.com and this was my conclusion: "On the one hand, I would have preferred an Ardnamurchan without any “exotic” influences like, in this instance, the Paul Lanois casks. But in all fairness, the variety of casks used for maturing Ardnamurchan has become part and parcel of the signature of this distillery. I accept this as the house style and judge it accordingly. This is a delightfully fruity, characterful dram that is a proud achievement after 10 years of being part of the Scotch whisky fold. Congratulations, Ardnamurchan!"

Sweet and dry, definitely get the champagne casks. Wine notes and fruits. Not quite as good as Paul Louis cask I had before.

Not he typical Ardnamurchan you know because a very elegant that can you suprise. It's a good choice for a new jear's eve

blindly I would have guessed beromach, but a pretty delicious one

Having tasted this in direct comparison with the latest Sherry cask release. This 10yo feels absolutely different - light, fresh in the nose, which goes on and on even in the empty glass. The taste however is a bit more demanding, requires right focus and mood. The influence of Paul Launois barriques is more than obvious, of course not on the level with full matured annuela releases. The price is adequate and this whisky is definitely a must-have for each Ardnamurchan fan, and here I am not an exception.

Ardnamurchan Extravaganza, 01Dec2024: Ardnamurchan 2016 Sauternes https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/259461/ardnamurchan-2016-ad 85- Ardnamurchan 2017 Paul Lanois #4 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/256466/ardnamurchan-ad-paul-launois-release 86- Ardnamurchan 10yo AD/10 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/261836/ardnamurchan-ad10 87- Ardnamurchan 5yo AD 2018 for McLean & Bruce https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/254830/ardnamurchan-2018-ad 85- Ardnamurchan 5yo 2018 for Dramtime https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/260941/ardnamurchan-2018-ad-1118-ck1973 84+ Ardnamurchan 6yo 2017 for Friends of Bruichladdich https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/260547/ardnamurchan-2017-ad0917-ck677 85+

The lack of smoke is not good for the stuff at all - at 6yo it had flatteringly packaged the mistakes and youth - here are all the weaknesses in the spotlight - better leave it alone or store it for another 10y in an inactive barrel, it must not absorb any more wood

An inviting nose with pear and white wine notes together with a unique vanilla ice cream note that I get from Ardnamurchan. The palate doesn't keep up however, but it does have some interesting notes of sparkling water or champagne. If you are a white wine lover I think this whisky definitely could be interesting for you. Contrary to what I heard before, I think it does deliver on the champagne front. For me it remains mediocre, but a fun experience nonetheless. Certainly not a bad whisky though. A bit of water helps it along, I think

Nose: Apples, floral, honey, lemon, milk chocolate. Palate: Peaches, honey, vanilla, tea leaves, sweet and sour sauce, Medium finish. Summary: Bright and moreish. While on the sweet side it has plenty of sour and bitterness in balance and while age isn’t necessarily everything this does taste more rounded compared to other Ardnamurchans I have tried.

very nice, clean malt dram - similar to Arran 10

Brief notes from an online blind tasting round… Delicious and it's on my wish list.

Whisky tasting on 2026 08 20 It is a decent whisky, but I'm more into the peated expressions from Ardnamurchan.

Tasted within a Whisky Dinner with Alex Bruce and Charles MacLean with some other Watt/Adelphi/Ardnamurchan whisky. Couldn’t belive it, but it was the most uninspiring expression of them. A 2nd try with a sample at home delivered not much more. Everything I love from the Paul Launios were just fragments.

Delicious, fruity, almost chardonnay-like, complex, bright, brilliant malt. Not many 10yo malts exhibit this kind of complexity and fruitiness on the market right now. Outstanding value.

starts dry, yeast, malt sugar, champagne, aged grappa, roasted walnuts and pine nuts, coastal chalkiness, stewed quince, overripe apples, dried apricots and dried mango, hint of white haribo gummy bear, flawless presentation, rather thick texture, vanilla cream on the taste, cereal, fresh newspaper, vegetal bitterness and tartness, green walnuts, astringent oakiness, dark caramel, cinnamon quite reminiscent of champagne, in a good way. Seemingly active and fresh casks, exiting without exaggerated sweetness or fruitiness, worthy of a first 10 year old release. Still, 70€ are a bit expensive, but no regrets

A sample from ronnholt. Tried a few Ardnamurchan lately and this is a good one. Not that any have been awful.... The cask coice make it a little unusual, but maybe that was what they wanted for the first 10YO. Reasonably priced for the age and good value in general I would say.

Fruity and biscuity all the way through, in many ways an upgraded arran 10. I preferred the midgie release

Extremely fruity but also smooth whisky. On the nose this whisky is really great. The bourbon influences are unmistakable. In terms of taste it tends towards the Sauternes variant, but with more depth.

A malt which you don't get often anymore, especially not anymore from recent bottles. This is an old school style malt. Very decent.

Ardnamurchan whisky tasting (February 2025) 86,5 Very good one

After six months or so, this whisky has unquestionably improved. That initial unbalanced and unrefined character has softened, yielding a more polished profile and finish. Not reaching any grand heights, but it's a definite step up from its previous state. All in all, not a bad dram—indeed, quite enjoyable now.

Previously, I generally liked various releases without age, especially the inaugural one, and therefore I had expectations from the 10-year-old Jubilee whisky, but... but unfortunately no(((... 10 on the label is more marketing than reality, I didn’t expect that they would merge there so quickly, Sad... Ok, IMHO we have a good, but rather young and even slightly prickly in taste whisky, of course it is quite drinkable, but the question is why, and then where is the 10 years?, I do not see them anywhere, especially not in the aftertaste... 20+ 20+ 19+ 20+ 81

Hmm, not sure what to think. I really wanted to like it, but somehow it falls short. The nose is really nice: full, sweet, fruity and round - you can clearly notice the Launois casks. The taste is less fruity and round to me and is geared more towards barley influence, tartness and slight saltiness - probably an indication of the distillery's highland provenance. The finish is where it falls apart for me, as it's fairly astringent. Weird considering this is a watered down 10 year old. I'll keep trying unpeated Ardnamurchan. Some day there will be one that really hits the mark. Or so I hope.

A superb "first decade"! A beautiful balance, a character with its own champagne-like quality, and a refreshing coolness that guarantees the drinker won't be overwhelmed. It never becomes monotonous, it's very enjoyable! Price-performance ratio: Good, Very good! Would I buy it again?: Yes!

Ten years in the making...A milestone, a one-off, something to celebrate this special occasion with, for sure. As I eagerly open the bottle, take a good sip and let the liquid swirl 'round the inside of my mouth in anticipation, and eventually swallow it, I'm left stunned. How incredibly....and utterly.....BORING!

Ardnamurchan Paul Launois tasting 2025.02.11 Ardnamurchan 04:21 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/180768/ardnamurchan-ad0421 86+ Ardnamurchan 06:22 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/212868/ardnamurchan-ad0622 86 Ardnamurchan Paul Launois Release 2023 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/235313/ardnamurchan-ad-paul-launois-release 87 Ardnamurchan Paul Launois Release 2024 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/256466/ardnamurchan-ad-paul-launois-release 85+ Ardnamurchan AD/10 10th Anniversary Edition https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/261836/ardnamurchan-ad10 87-

Another Ardnamurchan, and this one's a real winner for me! It has everything I'm looking for in a whisky. Bought for €49.99, this is a must-have!

Fruity (more peach, not quite tropical), nice complexity and intensity for 10 years.

Short review from Sample Conclusion: A decent, almost "old-school" Highland whisky that has nothing to hide and is of the same quality as the "good" Highland standards such as Clynelish 14, Ben Nevis 10, etc. Only the price (probably not possible as a new distillery) seems a bit too high to me... for 40-50€ it would otherwise be a permanent fixture in the display case.

So much biting astringent oak, sweet honey, champagne, apples, pears, mouthwash, toothpaste, walnuts, lots of celery, soap, and mushy spaghetti noodles. My bottle still hasn't gone past the neck, but this stuff is legit gross so far, and I'm a big Ardnamurchan fan. Maybe it's my pallet? An off bottle? Or maybe it gets better? If it does, I'll update my score, but I've tried it some 4+ times, and nope, not getting better yet...

On the nose, I detect a slightly warm alcoholic note, certainly not distracting or overpowering. A woody, vanilla-like classic, ex-bourbon barrel nose. What really stands out for me are the fresh citrus notes, combined with a distinct sea breeze. Think of peeled lemons in salt. Lemon curd. A very fresh coastel on the nose with some salty herbs from the dunes. At the same time, I also detect fresh floral notes, nicely balanced with the presence of vanilla. Some white stone fruit, certainly not overripe. Fresh orchard fruit here, too, not overripe in style. The palate is slightly warm, with a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and salty notes. A lovely dry finish with a sea breeze. For me, this Finnish is rather medium-bodied. Price-quality-wise, this is really a winner that delivers value for money.

A very elegant and vibrant whisky that doesn’t overstay its welcome, but keeps inviting another sip. The balance makes individual notes initially slightly hard to pinpoint, yet the experience stays vivid. I bought a backup bottle quickly. This could easily be a Dram of the Year contender for me (2025).

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Note: These are my initial impressions so this is also an initial score. From the first impressions I like it a lot. I was not that sure on the first few sips because it was not what I expected at first but it's a very nice dry mineralic whisky. I do want to note from the first drams out of the bottle it's very fleeting in giving off aromas and flavor notes, which if they don't click are not always easily found immediately on the next try. They come and go which makes it interesting imo but I expect the flavor profile to very much be a love it or hate it. You will definitely get more out of this dram with the more time and attention you give it.

Ardnamurchan has been producing whisky for 10 years and is actually bringing a 10-year-old whisky onto the market in its tenth year. Not strictly limited to a few hundred bottles and only available with a lot of money and luck, but in an edition of 15,000 bottles and quite affordable at around €70. That's not cheap for a 10-year-old whisky - for the first 10-year-old bottling from one of the best current distilleries (Best Distillery 2024 at the OSWAs), that's a decent price. The whisky matured in ex-bourbon American Standard barrels, some of the barrels were finished in Paul Lanois barriques and have a golden yellow color. The bottling is therefore somewhat reminiscent of the annual Paul Lanois release. This is not 10 years old, but all the barrels have been finished. glen-efze.de

Ardnamurchan AD/10 - 10 Year Old, SMSW, 50%. 30ml sample at home in Jan 2025, compared directly with the Midgie. Perhaps not a great move, in hindsight, as the Midgie is clearly peated and this is clearly not. Pretty much identical in colour – a mid-tone gold. Aroma is a little spinachy and mossy – ‘green oak’, lime sherbet sweets, underripe melon – the melon-like esters make it smell a little young, though obviously it’s not. Makes me think of unpeated Caol Ila - I can’t say I have loads of experience of that but there’s that slightly coastal, ‘salty’, paraffin restraint I associate with C.I.. Body is lightly to moderately oily. Not as big-bodied as the Midgie but still a nice body to it. Taste has a salty spiritous backbone (but not hot spirit at all) with subtle vibes – a little sweet oak to start, vanilla, violets/floral perfume, chocolately char, then the salt takes over for the finish, which is relatively short. Increasingly chocolatey and vanilla-led. Good stuff – definitely an enjoyable dram. Lovely spirit backed up by good casks. Between this and the Midgie … they’re very different but I think this is the more interesting dram and definitely the one I’d likely pick up if choosing between the two. 3.575/85

Ardnamurchan has always had good bottlings on the market, and this 10yo is no exception. It's still a lot of fun to follow the development of the distillery.

if all champagne tasted like this, id buy more

Whisky reviews are ultimately always a highly subjective matter. Not only because everyone has different tastes and perceives aromas differently in their mouth and nose, but also because emotions always play a role in one way or another when it comes to single malt. Where you taste it, with whom you first open it, or in which shop you bought it – all of this can influence our judgment just as much as the distillery from which the whisky originates. And in this case, I am, quite frankly, extremely biased. Since opening in May 2014 and beginning production shortly thereafter, Ardnamurchan, under the management of independent bottler Adelphi, has established a highly regarded reputation among Scottish Highland malts – thanks in part to numerous awards. The distillery operates largely sustainably, refrains from coloring and chill-filtration, and offers complete transparency and traceability via QR codes on the bottles. In short, they fulfill virtually every wish that the average whisky enthusiast, who is thoroughly fed up with the colored and diluted, run-of-the-mill Diageo offerings, has harbored for years. Since 2023, I've had several opportunities to sample Ardnamurchan whiskies, either through tastings or at whisky evenings, and thus witness the distillery's growth. From the very first sip, they surprised me with their remarkably sure hand in cask selection and astonishingly high, consistent quality. In 2024, their first 10-year-old, the "10th Anniversary Edition," was released, which of course had to find its way onto my shelf. This whisky is matured in unpeated bourbon casks (including some of the first casks ever filled at Ardnamurchan), then finished in Paul Launois Champagne barriques, before being bottled at 50% ABV. My bottle is number 1544 of 16,746 bottles. And here are my impressions: Aroma: Upon first opening the bottle, it's actually quite difficult to discern any further notes beyond the expected vanilla aromas and a hint of roasted malt. The 50% ABV is definitely noticeable, though I wouldn't say it tastes young or even harsh. No, rather, this bottling is initially very closed off. And that might disappoint some impatient whisky enthusiasts. The longer the contact with air and the lower the fill level in the bottle, the more this Anniversary Edition opens up. The strength of the alcohol gives way to a lovely grainy sweetness, behind which I now think I can taste green grapes and ripe gooseberries, perhaps lightly coated in blossom honey. I can also now perceive the typical Ardnamurchan mineral note, which has become something of a hallmark of the distillery and always reminds me a little of Campbeltown whiskies. Only without the musty smell of a swept-out industrial warehouse. Taste: The initial restraint vanishes immediately upon entering the mouth. Pleasantly sweet, it arrives in the first few moments, before I actually have to reach for a pen to capture the many subsequent impressions. Alongside vanilla crescents (dusted with powdered sugar) and cornflakes, I taste the melt of a beautiful white chocolate (and perhaps a touch of honey again), before the alcohol makes its presence felt once more, further increasing the complexity before the finish. Now the sweetness gives way to fruitier notes (once again, light grapes and gooseberries), spiced with white pepper and the oak of the bourbon barrels. It's possible my senses are playing tricks on me, but I also think I detect a hint of saltiness, followed by a mineral touch that the nose had already suggested. How intensely I perceived the individual notes varied greatly from day to day. However, this complexity definitely means that you'll want to keep this drop in your mouth for longer than 10 seconds, as there always seems to be something new to discover. Finish: As is so often the case with Ardnamurchan, I am once again very impressed by the finish, which leaves a remarkably lasting impression for a 10-year-old. While less complex than on the palate, the sweetness lingers for a considerable time, now more citrusy in nature, until a tart, yet very pleasant, ginger note gradually takes over. In my opinion, the alcohol is well integrated. And somehow, I can't shake the association with salt (at least in the background). Perhaps the nearby sea did indeed have an influence on the aging or even the distillation process. In conclusion: There's surely a reason why the folks at Ardnamurchan chose this bottling for their anniversary and not the (now also released) standard 10-year-old release. Those who have only ever tasted Glenmorangie 12, Glenlivet 12, or Glenfiddich 12 might find this bottling a bit overwhelming, as it's not exactly "well-rounded" and therefore not easily approachable for everyone. However, classic Ardnamurchan fans (or Highland whisky enthusiasts in general) will likely appreciate precisely these quirks and rough edges, which are simply part of this distillery's style – and therefore buy it without hesitation (especially considering the price).

Fruity, sweet, long finish

The AD 10 is the distillery's first single malt with an age statement. Unlike the regular AD 10, the Anniversary Edition is matured without peat. It has a very spicy character. The nose is wonderfully fruity and sweet, while the palate is significantly spicier. The Launois barrique wine casks impart a pronounced acidity and plenty of wood spice from the European oak. A very fine special edition from the young distillery.

This is a whisky that neither stirs up passion among enthusiasts nor connoisseurs, yet despite its limited release, it remains easily accessible at very reasonable prices — and that’s a big plus. For me, this whisky is greatly underrated. The nose is fantastic, offering impressive complexity. The fruity notes are immediately apparent, the alcohol is very discreet, and in the background, you can detect floral hints. On the palate, it’s sublime. The 50% ABV is barely noticeable; it drinks effortlessly, suave, and incredibly silky. It’s instantly enjoyable, with the alcohol nearly imperceptible, allowing the full expression of the distillery and the casks (which I suspect to be of remarkable quality) to shine through! Notes of vanilla, tropical fruits, and a very subtle touch of wood on the finish. The finish itself, it’s true, is rather short, dominated by vanilla and wood — typical of whiskies aged in ex-bourbon casks. But that’s exactly what I expect from this style of whisky. For me, this is an outstanding success and my Whisky of the Year 2024! It’s rare to find a whisky this silky that develops so much complexity both on the nose and palate. I really hope Ardnamurchan will release more unpeated whiskies — they clearly know how to do it brilliantly!

A delicious ardnamurchan. Unpeated. And maybe I prefer the light peated style a little. But so cool to taste the first barrels when they didn't make peated whisky at ardnamurchan. They can continue with that very fruity nose as far as I'm concerned!

Early Ardnamurchan bottlings were often dominated by a disturbing cardboard note. Now the spirit has matured a bit more, that note seems to have turned into dough / pastry. Definitely an improvement in this distinct distillery character. Unpeated, its profile differs quite a lot from last year's cask strength release.

Blind

I would have expected much more for a 10-year-old special bottling celebrating the distillery's birthday. This AD can't compete with the great single-cask bottlings, but it's still delicious and drinkable.

Tasted on festival. Very tasty, a high quality malt.

The Ardnamurchan, at 10 years old, already seems quite settled. I hardly have any youthful sharpness left. I have a lovely dirtiness. Something between a workshop and an old warehouse. I really like that. The brother has character. Otherwise, I have sugared grapefruit, green and red apples, and, above all, ripe pears, underscored by a wonderful vanilla in a herb garden. I've been eyeing this bottling for a while now and now I'm wondering why I haven't had it in my glass sooner. I really like it.

Ten-year-old Ardnamurchan.

Overall, it's very decent. High-quality, aromatic, and tasty. Another proof of how well this distillery can produce both peated and non-peat releases. A complex and interesting malt that evolves over time. We are waiting for the cask version

Purchased 13.02.2026 Paid 899.90 Opened 08.03.2025 Purchased 20.01.2025 Paid 869.90 Opened 10.03.2025 Empty 16.01.2026

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2025/02/10/cywl-ardnamurchan-in-2025/ How time flies. Over ten years have passed since Ardnamurchan opened in 2014 when the worldwide whisky rocket was preparing to launch. You could still pick up certain bottles of Karuizawa for less than £100 back then. N: Sweet yet savoury with a gentle grassiness, this is formed of whisky from Ardnamurchan’s first year of production which was completely non-peated. T: Having faithfully moved on from its ‘fermentary’ and ‘spirity’ stages, this feels like a complete/accomplished article much in the same way as Ardnahoe’s fabulous inaugural release [bottle review in due course]. Made up from ex-bourbon, 50% of those [non-peated] casks saw a further one-year finish in ex-Chardonnay Paul Launois casks – making for a successful matchup. F: Clean, spirit-forward with a soft silky-rich mouthfeel. C: Despite the unfamiliar absence of peat, the magic and individuality of the distillery and its spirit remain present though I’m glad they added phenols to their spirit production by year two. Whilst Ardnamurchan’s first year produced no peated spirit, going forward, they’ve continued to distill non-peated spirit for 60 days of every year since so will be able to maintain the character of the 10yo in the future [if they so wish].

Great malt and as the first 10 year old bottling from this distillery I can only say as the rate of development it will soon be one of the best in Scotland. Lovely complex malt with a long smooth finish

Aroma: lots of tropical fruit, coconut, white pepper, malt, lots of vanilla, maybe a hint of almonds and a slight woodiness. Taste: Distinctly malty, moderately spicy, pronounced influence of wine barrels, subtle woodiness...

Frankly, this is a wonderful whisky and I do not understand the (rare, but still) dissatisfied voices in the commentary. Tasting side by side with established staples like Glen Garioch 12, Deanston 12 or Arran 10, this one stands out as a lively, colorful and truly complex one. And comparing to the basic AD, it is definately a level up! Maybe the AD Mezcal cask felt on the same level, as interesting and special as AD 10. That said, I love all the above mentioned drams. Won't give the tasting notes, just some key words: nosing tropical orchard by the northern sea, don't need water more than literally a drop, that oily mouthfeel and full, rich taste. Personally I like peat very much but in this occasion do not miss that one bit.

A lively Ardnamurchan, a real summer dram! The influence of the champagne barrique and the longer maturation has eliminated the raw green / younger notes that some Ardnamurchans have, while adding a subtle sweeter and fruity side. Recommended!

I really can't understand the negative reviews here at all. In my opinion, this is a very solid, well-balanced single malt that doesn't do anything wrong. And it is precisely the lack of smoke that makes it so interesting to me.