Ardnamurchan AD/08.22:03 (USA)

I fell for the hype! Ardnamurchan got OSWA awards and it’s celebrated in the Scotch community, so I had to try it. I got this bottle for my Whisky Club and honestly it felt underwhelming compared to other bottles. Eyes - light golden color, thin legs, not very oily. On the nose - slightly smoky with orange peel, a bit minty (Ardnamurchan says nutmeg, but it’s not so nutty, but it brings the earthy, minty motes of nutmeg) and a bit toffee sweet. Palate - More peaty than expected, maybe walnut with orange feel, malty. Smoky and peppery finish. Added water - It dimmed the smoke a little. It’s more earthy, less sweet, more nutty. Orange peel is very subtle now and gave room to nutty, herbal notes. Again, a bit underwhelming and too smoky for what I was expecting. Either way, it’s a good dram, but my expectation was high. Cheers!