Ardnamurchan 5 year old Adelphi
70cl / 59.3% (OUT OF STOCK)
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- Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Butt
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Cherry Liqueur Chocolate, Cinnamon and Forest Fruits
Sweetness of Raisins, Cinnamon and Oak
Long Finish, Spicy and Oaky
A highly sought-after, early single cask marriage of peated and unpeated spirit, aggressively matured in active Oloroso sherry wood.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Ardnamurchan Distillery / Adelphi Distillery Ltd. / Highland, Scotland |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Cask Marriage |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 5 Years Old / 2015 / 2020 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 59.3% ABV (or 58.0% ABV) / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Marriage of two Ex-Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads/Butts (one peated, one unpeated) |
| Natural Colour | Yes (Natural Colour) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (Non-Chill-Filtered) |
| Cask Strength | Yes |
| Bottle count / Outturn | 1,333 Bottles (Specific Maclean & Bruce bottling) |
| Intended channel | Exclusive Collaboration Release (Maclean & Bruce 28th Anniversary) |
| Packaging | Ardnamurchan signature bottle with Adelphi/Maclean & Bruce specific label |
| Notes on discrepancies | The most reliable ABV is 59.3% ABV associated with the 1,333-bottle outturn. Other related bottlings have used 58.0% ABV. We focus on the higher ABV as the primary specification. |
Historical Context
Ardnamurchan Distillery, which began distillation in 2014, is a notable new entrant in the Highland region, defined by its focus on sustainability and its ownership by the highly selective independent bottler, Adelphi. This 5-year-old expression, distilled in 2015 and bottled in 2020, is an essential early marker of the distillery's potential, showcasing spirit aged under five years.
This release was explicitly bottled as a limited-edition collaboration to mark the 28th anniversary of Maclean & Bruce.2 The technical approach—marrying both peated and unpeated spirit styles—was combined with powerful, active first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The strategic decision to bottle this at a young age (5 years) and high strength (59.3% ABV) was a tactical move, designed to demonstrate the inherent robustness of the new make spirit and its ability to rapidly assimilate intense sherry influence. The resulting dense, savoury profile, with notes of smoked fish and tobacco, confirms that this aggressive maturation successfully bypassed the typical 'raw' notes associated with youthful single malt.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
This bottling is characterized by its complex spirit composition and highly specific cask treatment.
Spirit and Cask: The liquid is a single cask marriage derived from two sister ex-Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads/Butts.4 Crucially, it blends the distillery's peated and unpeated spirit.
Bottling Data: Distilled in 2015 and bottled circa 2020 at five years of age. The specific Maclean & Bruce release yielded 1,333 bottles at a natural Cask Strength of 59.3% ABV.
Documented variants
Verified ABVs, sizes, markets, packaging years/regions:
59.3% ABV / 70cl: Maclean & Bruce Exclusive Oloroso Butt Marriage (2020 bottling).
58.0% ABV / 70cl: Alternative ABV listed for a Maclean & Bruce 5Y bottling.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 59.3% | 70cl | Exclusive/Specialist | 5 Years, Oloroso Cask Butt, Maclean & Bruce | Highest, specific collector release |
| 58.0% | 70cl | Exclusive/Specialist | 5 Years, Sherry Cask, Maclean & Bruce | High, slight ABV difference, collaboration bottling |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
As a recent, specialized bottling, authentication requires precise verification of the unique collaborative labelling. The label must name Adelphi as the bottler, specify the 5-year age, Cask Strength, and the Maclean & Bruce collaboration. Given the 2020 bottling date and high ABV, fill levels must be Into Neck (IN), and the closure and presentation box (if applicable) must be in pristine condition.
Buyers must ensure the bottle is correctly identified as the Oloroso sherry cask marriage, avoiding common confusion with other single casks released by Adelphi that utilized different wood types.
Regulatory/terminology notes
This expression strictly adheres to Adelphi’s high bottling standards. It is confirmed as Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF), retains its Natural Colour, and is bottled at Cask Strength (59.3% ABV). The liquid represents a unique combination of peated and unpeated spirit.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
The profile is dense, highly textural, and remarkably savoury, dominated by active sherry wood and the coastal nature of the spirit.
Nose: Highly complex, featuring strong savoury and salty notes. Descriptive markers include smoked fish, cheese rind (raclette), earthy notes, and the smell of salt and vinegar crisps. Deeper aromas reveal nutmeg, tobacco, liquorice, and oranges, rounded off by medicinal iodine and fennel.
Palate: Oily and powerful, providing a noticeable mouthfeel. Key flavours include liquorice twig, tobacco leaf, slate, graphite, leather armchair notes, and woodiness. It balances candied ginger and slight salty notes with chocolate and lemon zest.
Finish: Musky, oily, and protracted. Lingering characteristics include woodiness, pipe tobacco, and a lasting smoky oiliness.
With water: Given the youthful age and high concentration (59.3% ABV), adding water is often necessary to open up the profile. Dilution is expected to temper the spirit's intensity, revealing softer, fruit-driven notes such as orchard fruit, honeysuckle, and lemongrass, resulting in greater overall complexity.
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Ardnamurchan Distillery, owned by Adelphi, emphasizes sustainable production of both peated and unpeated single malt. Adelphi, acting as the bottler, is respected worldwide for its uncompromising quality standards, consistently releasing small batches of exceptional single cask whiskies at Cask Strength.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras: Focus on the 59.3% ABV Maclean & Bruce Oloroso Butt bottling for maximum collector value.
Red flags to avoid: Mislabelled or incorrectly identified bottles that confuse this specific sherry marriage with other different wood finishes.
Condition thresholds: Given the recent bottling date, mint condition is essential for high valuation.
Margin/velocity expectations: Strong velocity. High margins are achievable on pristine bottles sourced below the typical GBP 100.00 retail entry point.
