Ardnamurchan 2017 AD/ Mezcal Cask Release 8 Years Old

Released in 2025 from 2017 distilled spirit, the Mezcal Cask Release is an 8 Years Old Ardnamurchan finished in casks that previously held mezcal, bottled at 55% ABV for global distribution. The cask choice marries Ardnamurchan's Highland peat character with the agave smoke profile of traditional Mexican spirits.

The base spirit follows Ardnamurchan's standard production: 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% in ex Bourbon for primary maturation, then transferred to ex mezcal casks for finishing on site at Glenbeg in dunnage warehousing.

Mezcal casks are made variously from American oak, French oak or other species, and the smoke imparted by traditional pit roasted agave hearts during mezcal production leaves residual phenolic compounds in the wood. These overlap with whisky's own peat phenols (guaiacol, syringol, 4 methylguaiacol) but typically carry a slightly different spectrum, with stronger 4 ethylguaiacol from agave specific microbiology. Combined with Ardnamurchan's St Fergus Highland peat at 30 to 35 ppm from the peated portion of split production, the result is a layered smoke profile distinct from both Scotch and mezcal individually.