Description

Ardnamurchan AD/ The Midgie (2025 Release) Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Volume: 700ml            ABV: 48%           Age: No Age Statement           Country: Scotland

The Whisky

The Ardnamurchan AD/ The Midgie Release (2025 Release) is a playful yet sophisticated tribute to Scotland’s most notorious summer inhabitant—the Highland Midge. Following the roaring success of the 2024 inaugural UK exclusive, this 2025 edition has been unleashed globally with a revamped recipe and a new mascot on the label, affectionately known as “Myrtle McItchy.” Bottled at 48% alc/vol, this year’s “insect repellent” is a complex vatting of 75% unpeated and 25% peated spirit distilled between 2017 and 2019.

The cask makeup for the 2025 release has shifted significantly to favour a “redder,” more tart profile. It is composed of 50% ex-Bourbon barrels, 48% Ruby Port Barriques, and a 2% “smidgie” of Sherry casks. While the previous edition leaned into the honeyed sweetness of Sauternes and Madeira, the heavy influence of Ruby Port in the 2025 batch introduces a vibrant, berry-forward intensity that balances Ardnamurchan’s signature maritime salt and gentle peat smoke. With only 16,658 bottles produced, it is a brilliantly executed limited release that captures the “buzz” of the West Highlands.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: A fascinating interplay of sweet and savoury. Aromas of gammon ham with torched pineapple lead into rich notes of prunes dipped in sea salt and strawberry jam on a salty cracker. As it breathes, you’ll find vanilla crème brûlée, coconut macaroons, and a refreshing lift of spearmint and lemon thyme.

Palate: Viscous and mouth coating. The Ruby Port influence is front and centre with sharp raspberries, lingonberry jam, and black fruit pastilles. This fruitiness is grounded by savoury layers of salt baked pear, cherrywood embers, and a unique “petrichor” mineral note. Mid palate, hints of cocoa powder and pink peppercorns add a spicy complexity.

Finish: A long, dry, and buoyant finish. A gentle puff of woodfire smoke mingles with Himalayan pink salt and a final burst of red currant cordial. It remains beautifully balanced between tart red fruits and the distillery’s characteristic coastal salinity.

The Distillery

Ardnamurchan is famously the most westerly distillery on the British mainland, located on the rugged, remote peninsula of the same name. Owned by the acclaimed independent bottler Adelphi, the distillery is a global leader in sustainable production. It is powered entirely by local renewable energy: a hydro-electric generator on the nearby river provides the cooling water and power, while a biomass boiler fueled by local woodchips provides the heat. A unique factual detail for 2025: the “Midgie” label features a QR code that utilizes blockchain technology, allowing you to trace your specific bottle’s journey from the barley fields of Fife to the dunnage warehouses in Glenbeg.

Overall Review

The 2025 Midgie Release is a “red fruit firework” that improves upon the original by adding deeper berry layers to its salty, smoky core. Critics have hailed it as “dangerously drinkable” and a masterclass in how to integrate Port maturation without losing distillery character.