Founded in 2014, under the umbrella of legendary independent whisky bottlers Adelphi, the Ardnamurchan distillery has quickly captured the attention of whisky lovers around the world. Out in the western Highlands, on the peninsula of the same name, they are 'Scotland's Greenest Distillery' both in terms of their verdant surroundings and their commitment to making whisky in harmony with the natural environment.

All of their energy needs are met by renewable sources - electricity comes from hydro-electric and solar and their mash-tun is heated with wood chips from sustainably managed local forests. The by-products are recycled on the peninsula as well, turned into feed for sheep and cattle raised in their local area, or into a new barley-based paper that they are now using for labels.

Unlike many larger distilleries they age all of their whisky on-site in their own warehouse, ensuring that the specific character of aging on the Ardnamurchan peninsula can be tasted in every bottle.

At the distillery they produce both peated and unpeated whisky, allowing them to blend to get a balanced degree of smoke in their different releases. The peat they use is from the Highlands, where it is largely composed of decomposed heathers and is less dense than peat from Islay which contains a lot of seaweed. This gives a more delicate woodsmoke note rather than the iodine and brackish character of peaty island malts.

Ardnamurchan AD/042202 46.8% - £53

The AD/ is their core release, bottled periodically with a numerical code to distinguish the different batches. Always a blend of 50/50 peated and unpeated spirit, the 042202 release used 65% Bourbon and 35% Sherry casks.

Subtle smoked meat aromas, dried apricots and cocoa on the nose. The palate is soft and rounded, with a lasting finish balancing sweetness and smoke.

Ardnamurchan AD/02.22 Cask Strength Release 58.7% - £71

Bottled straight from the cask with no dilution, this is the most full-throttle of the range! This is coupled with a higher proportion of peated whisky, comprising around 90% of the final blend of casks.

The smoky aroma is powerful but doesn't dominate over the attractive dried fruit and spice notes, giving a warm and generous impression like sitting in a leather chair by an open fire. Robust and intense on the palate with the sweet, rich peat balanced by fresh and fruity notes.

Ardnamurchan The Midgie 48% - £59.95

A special release of just 6400 bottles, this was made in collaboration with Smidge (Scotland's most popular midge-repellant) as a light-hearted celebration of the infamous pest, ever-present on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The whisky itself is seriously good! They took the formula for the standard AD/ blend and added casks of whisky aged in Madeira and Sauternes cask, working out at 60/40 unpeated to peated spirit in the final blend.

Richer fruit notes from the wine casks come through on the nose, pear drops and plums, alongside grassy, funky peat notes. The palate is sublimely drinkable, smooth and rich with more of that lovely fruit entwined with smoke lingering in the finish.