Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Manager's Selection Second Release

Ardnahoe Distillery has confirmed the second chapter of its Manager's Selection series with the Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Manager's Selection Second Release, a single malt Scotch whisky drawn from casks distilled in 2020. The release arrives on 26 August 2026 with an allocation of just 607 bottles, each filled at a cask strength of 59.3% ABV.

The series was established with the inaugural release, also a five year old single malt, and the Second Release continues the pattern of annual small batch bottlings chosen personally by distillery manager David Livingstone. Where the inaugural bottling set the template, this second outing refines it, picking casks that emphasise the softer, sweeter side of Islay malt.

The Cask Selection and Tasting Profile

David Livingstone, who has overseen production at Ardnahoe since its opening, hand selected the casks for this release. The resulting whisky opens with cinnamon spice and candied apples on the nose, underpinned by the soft peat smoke that defines the distillery's house style. On the palate, caramel sweetness mingles with red fruits and dark chocolate, while the finish lingers on warm star anise and bonfire smoke.

The distillery's own notes point to a whisky that wears its youth lightly, with the peat serving as a structural backbone rather than an overpowering force. The high bottling strength of 59.3% ABV leaves room for water to open the nose, though the spirit carries enough concentration to hold its own neat.

A Small Family Run Distillery on Islay

Ardnahoe sits on the north east coast of Islay, looking across the Sound of Islay toward Jura, and is the island's newest distillery. It is family run by the Robertson family, who also own Hunter Laing & Co, and production began in 2019. The Manager's Selection series is part of a broader range that also includes the distillery's core single malts and sherry cask expressions.

Distilled in 2020 and bottled in 2026, the Second Release reflects the distillery's early maturation regime, a period when the spirit is still showing the vibrancy of its youth. The first release in the series, the Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Inaugural Release, demonstrated the same approach, and this Second Release builds on it with a slightly different cask profile.

Availability and Bottle Details

Each of the 607 bottles is hand numbered, reflecting the personal nature of the selection. The whisky is bottled without chill filtration at natural colour, preserving the texture and character of the spirit as it came from the cask.

Collectors and Islay enthusiasts will find the Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Manager's Selection Second Release listed on Spiritory alongside the inaugural release, making it simple to compare the two vintages side by side. The Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Manager's Selection Second Release is available on Spiritory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Manager's Selection Second Release?

It is a single malt Scotch whisky from Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay, distilled in 2020 and bottled in 2026 after five years of maturation. The casks were hand selected by distillery manager David Livingstone.

How many bottles were released?

Only 607 bottles were released, each hand numbered and bottled at 59.3% ABV without chill filtration.

What does the whisky taste like?

The nose offers cinnamon spice and candied apples over soft Islay peat, while the palate brings caramel sweetness, red fruits and dark chocolate. The finish is warm with star anise and bonfire smoke.

Where can I buy the Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Manager's Selection Second Release?

The Ardnahoe 5 Years Old Manager's Selection Second Release is available on Spiritory.