Everybody loves a new, Scottish distillery. Ardnamurchan is a Highland region distillery that still hasn’t offered a true whisky to this point- they keep blending 1-1.5 year old spirit with some 3-4 year old stuff that’s been aging gracefully in first fill, sherry casks. This release is called AD2018 and it’s the 3rd such release from Ardna. Why didn’t they just go ahead and release an official 3 year old whisky? Well, I don’t rightly know. AD 2018 is bottled at 55.3% ABV and is natural color and isn’t chill filtered. I picked up this bottle from a U.K. store for a rather pricy $60. Let’s peer into what could be in store once Ardnamurchan stops “blending down” and finally gives us an official whisky in the next year or two: It’s caramel and amber in color, quite oily with thin legs and heavy droplets. The nose reveals fresh cut oak from the younger portion that’s been aged for just over a year in ex-bourbon casks. Cinnamon and sherry, raspberry candies and hints of cough syrup mingle in along with the faintest of peat smoke. The earthy peat has been left behind in favor of the smoky variety. I like that here- it just needs a bit more IMO. The palate also reveals nice sherry cask notes, evidence of first fill goodness. Ripe berries and fruit followed by a hot and dry cinnamon note around the mid sip. It turns overly dry leading into the back end and leaves a bit of gasping for cool air. The ABV shows its face and really delivers the goods leading into the finish. It continues to be hot and dry, slightly salty and smoky with lingering berry sweetness. Overall, the flavor profile is astounding for such a young product. The master blender definitely made sure to use enough sherry cask whisky to leave an impression and it works overall. The fact they acknowledge using peated whisky in this blend makes me take a step back because there just isn’t enough of a peated presence for me. Leave it out or bump it up, guys. It isn’t a score buster, it just makes me pause on grading it higher. The price is a bit prohibitive for what you’re getting, age wise, but it’s still a tasty dram, no doubt. 3.75-4 stars for total package delivery with a subtraction for price point and failure to deliver the peat as advertised. So, 3.5 it is. Here’s to looking forward to their first, true whisky- whenever that may be. Cheers.