4.8/5 with 11,500+ reviews
The latest in the restlessly creative Highland distillery’s annual series, named in playful tribute to the tiny, nefarious creatures that haunt Scotland’s summers. Ardnamurchan have continued with the port cask influence of 2025’s edition but added another thread of complexity: instead of using only unpeated ruby port barriques, they’ve combined peated and unpeated spirit matured in both tawny and ruby port casks, the peated tawny port casks in particular contributing the salty, earthy savour sought out by the distillery. The bourbon-cask element of the vatting is entirely unpeated, adding a bright counterpoint to the port casks’ red summer fruits and maritime smoke.
A small-batch vatting of 34% ex-bourbon barrels, 49% ruby port barriques and 17% tawny port casks, with approximately 70% unpeated and 30% peated spirit used. One of a run of around 9,000 bottles, presented at 48% abv free from artificial colour or chill filtration.
Fresh raspberries, soft amaretto biscuits, fresh-cut cedar and salted lemons on the delicately smoky nose. Soft smoke, brambles and plums in baked custard, fragrant herbs and fruity spice on the palate give way to bitter orange and sea salt on the lingering finish.
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