Time for this Year’s April fool’s whisky, this time they have chosen to go with a younger malt from one of the more interesting young whisky distilleries out there: Ardnamurchan, which is owned by Adelphi. Noy a lot of details are revealed about this one but what we know is that it’s a marriage of peated and unpeated 5-year-old whisky from first-fill bourbon and oloroso-sherry casks distilled in 2016 (
- Three unpeated first-fill ex-bourbon barrels
- Two peated ex-oloroso hogsheads)
April Fool’s whisky, 53.2% , £74.95, 1,600 btl.
Nose: Nice start, with not an awful lot of smoke and peat: quite earthy and farmy to begin with, then underneath the earth and maybe gravel-y notes there comes a nice touch of fruit. Orange zest, fruity Haribo candy, and some spice. Feels older than it’s 5 years I must say.
Palate: The palate is bigger and peatier than the nose, which is nice! (was not expecting it), when the peat and smoke subsides, I am getting some unripe banana, crushed black peppercorns, alongside hints of sweet sultanas and dark chocolate.
Finish: the peat and smoke linger with some mocha and dark chocolate, alongside cocoa powder and orange marmalade.
Conclusion: A fine young dram, which feels older than its years, the peat is not young, and the farmy , earthy profile with the fruit and the added richness of the oloroso casks works well together.
Score: 87/100
Available while stocks last, at the TWE webshop