Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%

Sauternes casks are expensive and rare because the wine itself is. The châteaux in Bordeaux need their barriques and do not readily sell them on. When one nonetheless ends up on a west Scottish peninsula, it is worth noticing.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky first matured in bourbon casks and then finished in selected Sauternes wine casks, bottled at 50% in 2024.

Sauternes is the sweetest of the white wines of Bordeaux, made from grapes affected by noble rot. The casks add a subtle sweetness and a complexity that settles over the classic Highland malt profile without drowning it: honey, dried fruit and a lightly spiced close.

The natural colour and unfiltered character preserve the whisky’s authentic flavour, and at 50% there is body enough to carry both the wine cask sweetness and Ardnamurchan’s own maritime edge.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Nectarines and sweet pastry first, with honey and candied citrus peel behind. A rich waxiness sits beneath it all, and a light peat smoke and saline maritime note push through.

Palate

Rich notes of honey and dried fruit open, then a lightly spiced warmth and a dry oak note arrive. The sweetness is balanced rather than dominant, and at 50% the texture is full and nuanced the whole way.

Finish

Medium to long. Honey, spice and a dry close where the maritime salinity lingers beneath the sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 50%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, finished in Sauternes wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2024
Edition: Sauternes Cask
EAN no.: 5060383653946

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Sweet · Spiced · Maritime · Waxy

Did You Know?

In Sauternes the harvest is among the most labour-intensive in the wine world. The grapes are picked berry by berry over several passes as the noble rot spreads unevenly through the vineyard. Some estates reckon on a single glass of wine per vine. That is why the casks rarely leave Bordeaux.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 50%

What is Sauternes?

A sweet white wine from Bordeaux, made from grapes affected by noble rot. The fungus dries the grapes on the vine and concentrates sugar and acidity, giving a wine with both sweetness and freshness.

What does a Sauternes cask do to whisky?

It gives honey, stone fruit and a lightly waxy texture. The sweetness is more elegant and less heavy than sherry’s, and it brings a fine acidity that keeps the whisky from turning sticky.

Why are Sauternes casks rare?

Because the wine is expensive to produce and the casks are in demand from the estates themselves. They are traded on a far smaller scale than sherry and port casks, which makes them rarer to meet in Scotch whisky.

Is it sweet?

The sweetness is clear but balanced. Ardnamurchan’s maritime salinity and light peat smoke pull the other way, and the result is more nuanced than sweet.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat at room temperature. At 50% there is body enough that the whisky does not need water, though a few drops can open the honey further. See our full range of Highland Whisky.

Does it work with dessert?

Yes, it is probably the Ardnamurchan cask variant that works best after a meal. Try it with a stone fruit tart or a crème brûlée, where the honey notes get something to play against.