Ardnamurchan Madeira Cask Release AD Single Highland Malt Whisky 52%

Mezcal and peated whisky have more in common than you might think. Both get their smoke from something that has lain in the ground and burned: agave hearts in a stone-lined pit in Oaxaca, peat under a malting floor in Scotland. Here they meet in the same cask.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan Mezcal Cask Release AD is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky first matured in traditional bourbon and sherry casks and then finished in used mezcal casks from Mexico, bottled at 55%.

Mezcal is known for its smoky, earthy character, which comes from agave hearts roasted in earth pits over embers. The casks add a depth and complexity distinct from classic Scottish malt whiskies, a mineral structure not found in wine casks.

The release is part of the distillery’s continuing work with unconventional cask types. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet malt and a lightly medicinal peat smoke open, quickly followed by characteristic mezcal notes: green agave, citrus, white pepper and toasted oak. It is all rounded off by a subtle spiced undertone.

Palate

Green apples and fresh lime meet a finely balanced peat smoke and a lightly saline character. Warm notes of vanilla, honey and a touch of cinnamon and clove sit in the middle. The texture is full, and the minerality from the mezcal casks gives structure without drowning the fruity base.

Finish

Long and mineral. Smoke, citrus and a dry, almost stony close where the agave lingers longest.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan Mezcal Cask Release AD Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 55%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks, finished in used mezcal casks from Mexico
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Mezcal Cask Release AD

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Mineral · Citrus · Spiced · Cask Strength · Fruity

Did You Know?

Mezcal is made by roasting agave hearts in a pit in the ground, covered with stones and glowing wood, for several days. That is where the smoke comes from, not from the cask or the distillation. The method resembles Scottish peat firing more than anything else in the spirits world, which is probably why the two work together.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardnamurchan Mezcal Cask Release AD Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55%

What is mezcal?

A Mexican spirit made from agave. The agave hearts are roasted in earth pits over embers before being crushed and fermented, and it is that process which gives mezcal its characteristic smoky, earthy character.

What does a mezcal cask do to whisky?

It adds a mineral structure, green agave and a dry, almost stony edge. It is a quite different kind of influence from wine casks, which give fruit and sweetness. The mezcal cask gives direction rather than sweetness.

Does the whisky not become too smoky?

No, because the two kinds of smoke are different. Ardnamurchan’s peat smoke is earthy and maritime, while mezcal’s is drier and more vegetal. They settle beside each other rather than reinforcing each other.

Is it a whisky for beginners?

No. It is an experimental release at 55% that assumes familiarity with peat smoke and ideally with mezcal too. For calmer choices see our range of Highland Whisky.

Does it need water?

Try it neat first. At 55% the balance between agave, smoke and fruit is fine, and too much water can blur the minerality. A few drops at a time is enough.

Why does Ardnamurchan experiment so much with casks?

Because the distillery is young and does not yet have decades of stock to draw on. Cask experiments are a way of creating different expressions without waiting twenty years, and they have also become part of the house identity.