Ardnamurchan Paul Launois Release Scotch Whisky 2026
Ardnamurchan Paul Launois Release Scotch Whisky 2026 is the fifth edition of Ardnamurchan's collaboration with Paul Launois, the family Champagne house in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — a Highland single malt distilled in March 2017 from 100% unpeated spirit, matured in ex-bourbon barrels and finished for around 14 months in Paul Launois Grand Cru Champagne barriques. Twenty-two bourbon barrels were re-racked into the Champagne casks, with two further bourbon casks joining the final vatting. Bottled at cask strength, 57.4% ABV, unchill-filtered with natural colour — 5,726 bottles in a 700mL bottle.
- Distillery: Ardnamurchan, Glenbeg, Highland, Scotland
- Edition: Paul Launois Release 2026 — fifth instalment, 5,726 bottles
- Distilled: March 2017, 100% unpeated spirit
- Casks: Ex-bourbon barrels, finished in Paul Launois Champagne barriques
- ABV: 57.4%, cask strength
- Size: 700mL
- Presentation: Unchill-filtered, natural colour (burnished copper)
A Highland Malt Meets Champagne
The Paul Launois Release has quietly become one of Ardnamurchan's most anticipated annual bottlings. The distillery sends its unpeated spirit — matured first in bourbon wood — into the French oak barriques that held Paul Launois's Grand Cru Champagne, where the wine-soaked staves add pastry richness, citrus lift and a fine, dry minerality you would never get from sherry or bourbon wood alone. The 2026 release, distilled in March 2017 and bottled after almost nine years, is the fifth time the two houses have done this. Browse more of the distillery's work in our Scotch whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Boozy fruit, peach melba and tinned peaches, toasted coconut, charred pineapple chunks, crystallised ginger, ground nutmeg, Danish pastry and lime marmalade. Palate: Rhubarb, bread and butter pudding, candied salted cashews and dulce de leche — weighty, with orange rind and white chocolate. Finish: Sumptuous, menthol and buttery, fairly long.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a tulip glass is the way to catch the Champagne-cask pastry notes; a few drops of water loosen the 57.4% strength and bring the peach and citrus forward. It pairs beautifully with Comté or a simple fruit tart. Collectors of the distillery's wine-cask work should also see this year's ArdnAmerica Tour Bottling 2026, the port-barrique US exclusive, and the peated Sauternes Cask Release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Paul Launois Release? It is Ardnamurchan's annual collaboration with Champagne producer Paul Launois: unpeated single malt matured in bourbon barrels and finished in the house's ex-Champagne barriques. The 2026 bottling is the fifth edition.
How many bottles were released? 5,726 bottles worldwide, at a cask strength of 57.4% ABV.
Is it peated? No — the Paul Launois Release is made entirely from unpeated spirit. For the distillery's peated side, start with the Ardnamurchan AD/ 10 Year Old and the core range.
A small-batch Highland single malt with a genuine Champagne finish — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.