Ardnamurchan 2016 AD/ Paul Launois Third Release 7 Years Old

Released in 2023 from 2016 distilled spirit, this is the third Paul Launois Release from Ardnamurchan, a 7 Years Old expression bottled at 57.1% ABV for the Italian market. The Champagne cask collaboration with Paul Launois of Le Mesnil sur Oger continues here with a vintage and age statement absent on the first two batches.

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 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 before finishing in ex Paul Launois Blanc de Blancs Champagne casks at Glenbeg.

Paul Launois Blanc de Blancs is produced entirely from Chardonnay grown on Grand Cru rated chalk soils. The seven year base of ex Bourbon maturation supplies a more developed vanillin and oak lactone foundation than the earlier NAS releases, with Maillard products from prolonged interaction with toasted oak sugars driving honey notes. The Champagne finish layers fresh citrus, brioche and chalk mineral register on top through residual wine compounds in the wood. Peated phenols (guaiacol, syringol, 4 methylguaiacol from St Fergus Highland peat at 30 to 35 ppm) from the peated portion contrast the bright wine character with structural smoke.