Ardnamurchan 1 Year Old Warehouse Release Batch 7

I just tried a very promising Batch 5, although it still has a long way to go. This 7th batch is different in the sense that it matured on a mix of PX and oloroso octaves. The ABV is slightly lower (and in fact surprisingly low for a spirit of only a year old). It sports a beautiful bronze color.

Oh, this nose is very sweet with a lovely spiciness (nutmeg, pepper) and a touch of woodsmoke. It can already hide its very young age and fool you into believing it is three years or older. Dates and raisins, but also cold coffee and raw chestnuts.

It is powerful and soft at the same time, if you can believe that. You cannot call this spirity as it is already round and very tasty. Rough, sure, but the sherry has done a lot of work and givien it a softness that few spirits boast at this age. The second sip increases the spiciness. Chili pepper, nutmeg and candied ginger. The wood is still prominent, but already quite bearable.

The finish is dark and sweet with a sour note and leaves the mouth quasi dry.

This one has a lot of potential and in my opinion a bright future ahead.