Ardnamurchan 5yo b.2022 Second Release (53.2%, The Whisky Exchange April Fool, First Fill Bourbon Casks, 1575b): nose: strangely enough, this has something reminiscent of an old blend, tonight, somewhere between cardboard and stale pickle brine. That passes, and we are treated to cured apricots and a drinks cabinet, augmented with a pinch of earth and chopped peppers (green capsicum moving to red chilli). It then progresses towards walnut stain and polished chestnut shells. Cola and plasticine-y shoe polish team up to smother the brine, which is a good thing; surely, one would not want a repeat of Ardnagherkin. Instead, they lead the way for fortified wine spilled on earth. And it is earthier by the minute, too. The second nose juxtaposes that earth with dark-grape skins and a minute amount of juice. That seems to increase the impression of plasticine, and that is always a good thing, in tOMoH's opinion. We find a discreet whiff of hard-boiled eggs, almost not worth mentioning, and pencil shavings, followed by discreet pu'er. Mouth: woah! It is a lot peatier than the first time, with dry, crusty earth, mud patties turned into dusty briquettes, and the whole has its lot of spices too: grated cinnamon bark, ground cloves, chilli powder, spearmint, grated ginger. It is both heavy and refreshing, which illustrates the interplay of earth and spices, I suppose. There is a bunch of grapes in the background, but it is easy to miss, behind the earth and spices, really. The second sip is sharp and bitter; it combines bay leaves and cloves, and splashes them with a dash of fortified wine. It remains a spicy, earthy mouth, yet it has more to unveil than just that. Cedar-wood sheets, pencil shavings, crushed bay leaves, and a spoonful of blackberry jam to sweeten a cup of tea -- with milk at first, though that dissipates. Finish: velvety as a dark-berry jam, but also earthy and spicy. We have smoked-blackberry jam, pips and all, peat set alight, bay leaves fallen into dusty earth, peppermint and ginger. As was the case in the mouth, the finish has an interesting battle of fresh, lively notes of spices and the heaviness of dry earth and dark fruit, although the latter spells jams rather than wine, here. The second gulp is very much in line. It seems to shake off the sharpest outliers and corral all flavours towards a balanced middle ground. It keeps but a mild bitterness, likely berry stems or vines, to support the much-louder jams (blackberry, blackcurrant). Yet another delicious Ardnamurchan. 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, OB)
Happy birthday, LS.
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