Malts & Magic Quest No. 7: Ardnamurchan from Two Small Sherry Casks

An Ardnamurchan from two small sherry casks

The Bremen independent bottler whic has released the Ardnamurchan 8 Years Old Malts & Magic Quest No. 7 Whic, the seventh bottling in its Malts & Magic series. The single malt was distilled at Ardnamurchan Distillery on 30 April 2018 and bottled on 6 August 2026, after a little over eight years. It matured in two first fill sherry octaves, casks 410 and 410 B. One had previously held Pedro Ximénez, the other Oloroso, and the whisky from both casks was married for this bottling.

The distillery sits in the village of Glenbeg on the shore of Loch Sunart, half way along the Ardnamurchan peninsula on the west coast of the Highlands. Only a few miles away lies Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of the British mainland. Founded in 2014, the distillery describes its house style as gently smoky, rich and oily, with honey, fruit and a salty note.

Why small casks make such a difference

An octave is an unusually small cask. Compared with the amount of whisky inside, a lot of wood touches the spirit, so it takes on the flavours of the cask very intensely. Both casks were filled with whisky for the first time, and they passed on the character of the sherry they once held all the more clearly.

What makes this release interesting is how whic describes each cask's part. The Pedro Ximénez cask brings fruity sweetness with dried apricots and maple syrup, while the Oloroso cask answers with nutty spice from roasted almonds. whic credits the distillery itself with the marzipan and the trace of smoke, true to its house style. The result is a fruit forward sherry malt in which the spice is present but well woven in.

Nose, palate, finish

The nose opens with pleasant oak spice, then baked apple, cherries and a floral note, followed by marzipan, roasted almonds, buttery vanilla and a hint of smoke. The palate is creamy and oily and surprisingly gentle for its strength: preserved peaches, dried apricots and juicy pears meet forest honey, maple syrup and soft smoke, with a pinch of pepper. The finish brings dark chocolate with chili, roasted notes and coffee, before a fine fruity sweetness lingers on the tongue for a long time.

It was bottled at 55% ABV, without chill filtration and without added colouring, so its honey colour comes from the casks alone. A few drops of water draw out further nuances.

The label: a castle on the west coast

The series draws on fantasy stories, and this label tells a scene of its own: a half orc warrior, an elf archer and a halfling bard defend a ruined castle against harpies under a stormy sky. The castle is modelled on Castle Tioram, which stands on the tidal island of Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, not far from the Ardnamurchan peninsula. So the picture also leads to the west coast, where the whisky was distilled.

The series so far

Malts & Magic is planned as 13 Quests, each exploring a different side of single malt Scotch whisky, from smoky and powerful to fruity and elegant. Quest No. 4 came from Ben Nevis and matured in a first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead. Quest No. 6 was a Caol Ila from a PX sherry hogshead. Quest No. 5 from Highland Park took a different route, maturing in a first fill Amarone barrique.

Bottles and availability

Quest No. 7 is limited to 171 bottles of 70cl. You can find the Ardnamurchan 8 Years Old Malts & Magic Quest No. 7 Whic on Spiritory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Malts & Magic Quest No. 7?

An 8 year old Highland single malt from Ardnamurchan Distillery. The Bremen independent bottler whic released it as the seventh bottling in its Malts & Magic series.

Which casks was the whisky matured in?

In two first fill sherry octaves that had previously held Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso. The whisky from both casks was married for this bottling.

What strength is it bottled at?

55% ABV, without chill filtration and without added colouring.

How many bottles are there?

Quest No. 7 is limited to 171 bottles of 70cl.

Which castle is shown on the label?

Castle Tioram on the tidal island of Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, not far from the Ardnamurchan peninsula.