Code
Distillery
Ardnamurchan
Name
Recipe For Success
Producer
SMWS
Region
Highland
Age
7 years
ABV
61.3%
Bottler Type
Independent
Category
Scotch
Flavor Profile
Lightly Peated
The whisky presents a complex aromatic profile combining oriental spice notes with smoked cured bacon, brown sugar, and maple syrup. These aromas create an impression of sweetness layered with savory, smoky character.
On the palate, this whisky delivers a sweet and smoky character with citrus notes reminiscent of orange and blood orange, complemented by peaty undertones. The addition of water reveals an intense impression of freshly cut hay combusting into smoke.
The finish is characterized by smoked honey on sweet bread with prominent notes of pimentón de la vera, the Spanish sweet smoked paprika contributing a warm, lingering spiced conclusion.
Some of us pictured the oriental boudoir of Queen Marie Antoinette in the palace Fontainebleau while others, closer to home, found glazed smoked cured bacon with brown sugar and maple syrup. On the palate, yet again, some carefully sipped on a sweet and smoky margarita using orange curacao, orange blossom honey and blood orange soda next to lime juice and peaty whisky. Others had shots of peated pickleback. Careful when adding water, as the impression was of a barn full of freshly cut hay going up in smoke. To taste, we found smoked honey on sweet bread and, in the finish, pimentón de la vera, Spanish sweet smoked paprika.