Ardnamurchan AD / Small Batch Scotch Whisky

Ardnamurchan AD / Small Batch Scotch Whisky is a 46.8% ABV 700mL Highland single malt — the core expression of Ardnamurchan Distillery, the remote, sustainability-driven distillery on Scotland's Ardnamurchan peninsula founded in 2014 by independent bottler Adelphi. It marries 50% peated and 50% unpeated spirit matured in 65% ex-bourbon and 35% ex-sherry casks, bottled non-chill filtered with no added color, and every bottle carries a QR code linking to blockchain-registered production data. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• ABV: 46.8%
• Size: 700mL
• Spirit split: 50% peated / 50% unpeated
• Cask split: 65% ex-bourbon / 35% ex-sherry
• Distillery: Ardnamurchan, Glenbeg, Ardnamurchan peninsula, Highland, Scotland — founded 2014, first release 2016
• Style: non-chill filtered, natural color, QR-code production transparency

The West Coast's Balanced Dram

Ardnamurchan's founding move was refusing to keep its two spirits apart: rather than a peated line and an unpeated line, the smoke becomes the floor and the fruit becomes the room. The distillery sits a few dozen meters from Glenmore Bay on the most westerly point of the British mainland, powered by a local hydro-electric generator and heated with local wood chips — one of the UK's most sustainable distilleries. Browse more Scotch whisky or the Ardnamurchan range at Del Mesa Liquor.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh malt and bright fruit — pear and apple from the bourbon casks, raisins and orange peel from the sherry — over a dry, clear peat smoke.

Palate: Soft and balanced: vanilla, honey, and baked fruit, then darker sherry fruit and light spice, the smoke gathering toward the close.

Finish: Medium length — malt, dark fruit, and a dry smoky edge that lets go cleanly.

How to Enjoy

Neat to catch the full coastal balance, or with a few drops of water to open the citrus and honey. It is a natural food whisky — smoked salmon, aged cheddar, or dark chocolate with orange all work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "AD/" mean?
Ardnamurchan Distillery — the batch numbers were dropped when the whisky became a permanent core expression.

Is Ardnamurchan peated?
Half and half: 50% peated and 50% unpeated spirit, so the smoke supports rather than dominates.

Who owns Ardnamurchan?
Adelphi, the respected independent whisky bottler, which founded the distillery in 2014.

What is the QR code for?
It links to blockchain-registered production data for that batch — Ardnamurchan was the first Scottish distillery to offer full field-to-bottle transparency.

Scotland's west coast in a glass — Ardnamurchan AD/ Small Batch is ready to order from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.