Another bottle happily shared with @KoryH. We were intrigued by this one! The nose feels familiar, archetypal of a rich Highland malt suffused with fortified wine wood: fresh bovine leather, 70% cacao dark chocolate, Luxardo cherries, and guajillo chili. The palate boasts black plum, cedar, and luxuriant oak I associate with Japanese whiskey. Fermented fruit, almost an apple cider vinegar note, is apparent as well. The seasoned dryness and minerality I love about Ardnamurchan is almost buried beneath these flavors, an undertone that nonetheless brings the sweetness down to earth. The finish finally brings that to-die-for salted dryness and some coveted peat smoke. The aftertaste is nostalgic, a Swisher Sweet on an early summer evening. On its own, this is a perfectly fine drink. Compared to what amazes me about the other Ardnamurchan expressions, though, this one’s intrigue falls short.