Ardnamurchan AD/09.22 Cask Strength

Bottled in September 2022, AD/09.22 is an early Cask Strength release from Ardnamurchan at 58.4% ABV without dilution. The vatting draws on 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintage stock, matured entirely in sherry casks of two types.

Both peated and unpeated production runs from the distillery's split regime feed this release. Concerto barley is milled into a copper topped semi lauter mash tun, fermented 72 to 120 hours in seven stainless steel washbacks on a single strain distiller's yeast, then double distilled through copper pot stills with reflux boil balls to a new make of 74 to 76% ABV. Spirit was filled at 63.5% and matured on site at Glenbeg in dunnage warehousing.

Dual sherry maturation in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso casks contrasts two registers of rancio chemistry. The Oloroso component drives oxidative dried fruit and nutty character through slow polyphenol oxidation during extended oxygen exposure. The Pedro Ximenez fraction, sweeter and far more concentrated than Oloroso, contributes residual sugars and heavier viscosity with raisin and fig notes from sotolon and related lactone compounds. Bottling at full strength preserves the higher esters carried from long fermentation, while peated phenols (guaiacol, syringol, 4 methylguaiacol from St Fergus Highland peat at 30 to 35 ppm) integrate into the sherry darkness without dominating.