Ardnamurchan AD/ Rum Cask Release 2016 & 2017

Released in 2023 from 2016 and 2017 vintage stock, the Rum Cask Release is an Ardnamurchan expression finished in casks that previously held Caribbean rum, bottled at 55% ABV. The distillery filled 8,334 bottles for the European market.

The base spirit was produced through Ardnamurchan's standard regime: Concerto barley 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 wash and spirit stills with reflux boil balls to a new make of 74 to 76% ABV. Spirit was filled at 63.5% for primary maturation in ex Bourbon casks, then finished in ex Caribbean rum casks on site at Glenbeg in dunnage warehousing.

Caribbean rum casks impart a distinctive ester profile through residual rum compounds absorbed into the wood, particularly ethyl butyrate (pineapple), ethyl acetate (solvent fruit) and 2 methylpropyl acetate (banana, ripe fruit) that overlap with but extend the long fermentation esters that Ardnamurchan's spirit carries from its 72 to 120 hour fermentation. Citric, vanilla and fresh fruit notes from the ex Bourbon primary maturation remain the structural base, with the rum finish layering tropical character above. Peated phenols (guaiacol, syringol, 4 methylguaiacol from St Fergus Highland peat at 30 to 35 ppm) from the peated portion of split production carry as a smoky counterpoint to the bright rum derived fruit.