Ardnamurchan AD/06:22 Paul Launois Second Release

Bottled in June 2022 as the second Paul Launois Release from Ardnamurchan, this expression is presented at 57.5% ABV without dilution for the European market. The collaboration with Champagne house Paul Launois of Le Mesnil sur Oger continues with this batch matured in ex Bourbon casks before finishing in ex Paul Launois Blanc de Blancs Champagne casks.

Both peated and unpeated production runs feed this release. Concerto barley is milled into a copper topped semi lauter mash tun, fermented 72 to 120 hours 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% and matured on site at Glenbeg in dunnage warehousing.

Paul Launois Blanc de Blancs is produced entirely from Chardonnay grown on Grand Cru rated chalk soils. The casks retain residual wine compounds including fresh chalky mineral notes characteristic of Champagne, alongside citrus, brioche and the autolytic yeast derived character that develops during lees ageing of traditional method sparkling wine. Ex Bourbon underneath supplies vanillin and oak lactone structure. Full strength bottling preserves higher esters from long fermentation, while peated phenols (guaiacol, syringol, 4 methylguaiacol from St Fergus Highland peat at 30 to 35 ppm) from the peated portion sit as structural smoke beneath the wine character.