Named in homage to both the landmark “Maclean’s Nose” promontory on the Ardnamurchan peninsula and the legendary whisky writer Charles MacLean, who has guided and mentored Ardnamurchan’s team, Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky marries old-world complexity with a coastal Highland twist. Crafted with a 70% malt backbone and a generous proportion of ex-Sherry maturation, this delivers an elegant yet robust dram that balances sea salt and bonfire smoke with indulgent sweet notes. As with all Ardnamurchan releases, it is bottled unchill-filtered and in its natural colour, ensuring every nuance of the whisky’s journey remains intact.
Maclean’s Nose begins with carefully selected single malts (predominantly aged in ex-Sherry casks) blended to achieve a 70% malt content. This high malt ratio underscores the whisky’s depth, while a touch of carefully chosen grain spirit rounds out the blend. Maturation takes place in a mix of ex-American bourbon barrels and seasoned ex-Sherry butts, allowing each cask to impart its signature character. The Sherry casks contribute dried fruit and caramel notes, while the bourbon barrels lend vanilla and toasted oak. After resting in Ardnamurchan’s coastal warehouses, where salt-laden breezes draw out subtle maritime salinity, the blend is married, cut to 46% ABV, and bottled without chill-filtration.
Its 70% malt composition is unusually high for a blended whisky, resulting in a texture and complexity more akin to a fine single malt. With each sip, you taste the marriage of Highland peat smoke, Sherry-cask-derived richness, and a whisper of Atlantic air, an homage to both land and legend.
Pairing Suggestions:Smoked salmon canapés with dill crème fraîche, aged Manchego cheese on oatcakes, or dark chocolate-dipped sea salt caramels.
Tasting Note:Burnt citrus peel and bright sea salt mingled with indulgent white-chocolate truffle and a whisper of bonfire smoke on the nose. The palate is salt-kissed tangerine, orchard apple, and milk-chocolate ganache, underscored by gentle coastal peat. Lingering bonfire embers, dried cherries, and a final breath of sea breeze.
Origin:Highlands, Scotland
Alcohol:46.0%