A Scot on Scotch

WHISKY REVIEWS, NEWS, HISTORY & FOLKLORE

Man vs Midgie!

A Scot on Scotch reviews The Midgie, a new single malt Scotch whisky from Ardnamurchan Distillery in the Highlands of Scotland.

Many people will tell you that Scotland is the most welcoming country in the world and that may be true of the population but the same cannot be said for the wildlife. This nation may not lay claim to the impressive horde of killers to be found in Australia, for example, but Scotland is nevertheless home to its very own brand of psychotic, murderous wee bastards.

The evening is perfect, my sisters,
The loch lies silent, the air is still,
The sun’s last rays linger over the water
and there is a faint smirr, almost a smudge
of summer rain. Sisters, I smell supper,
and what is more perfect than supper?

– Midge by Edwin Morgan

The Scottish midge is a flying nightmare that emerges at sunrise and sunset – and various other inconvenient times in between. They gather, millions strong, to indulge in rage-fuelled ceilidhs that take the form of angry clouds. Any living creature that’s unfortunate enough to come into contact with the ravenous swarm will soon enough find itself several pints of blood lighter.

Should you, or anyone you know, ever find yourself considering a summer camping trip to the Highlands of Scotland, you simply must give your head the very firmest of wobbles. For while this country may be beautiful, dramatic and spectacular, it is also bitey, itchy and maddeningly annoying.

That Adelphi’s Ardnamurchan Distillery has decided to release a single malt in honour of these nasty little pricks is, quite frankly, mind-boggling. Though, it must be said, I’ve had some suspicions about this distillery for a while now. Their whisky was just a wee bit too good, a wee bit too soon and I’ve long been considering the possibility that they struck a deal with some dark force of the netherworld. It probably took place at a crossroads somewhere. At midnight, no doubt.

With this latest release, the murky picture has become somewhat clearer and there can no longer be any doubt that Ardnamurchan has signed a contract with Beelzebub and his biting minions. They built a distillery to entice fresh meat to the feeding grounds and have become so emboldened by their wicked success that they’re now flaunting this dastardly allegiance for all to see.

We live in dark times, my friends.

*Full disclosure: the sample featured in this review was sent to me free of charge. As always, I will strive to give an honest opinion on the quality of the dram and the value for money it represents. That said, I am a little concerned that insufficient praise may result in my feeling the full wrath of the piranha of the air.

Ardnamurchan “The Midgie” Review

The Midgie is a collaboration with the leading insect repellent, Smidge. The dram features an interesting array of casks with Madeira and Sauternes mingling with a sherry Butt and Bourbon barrels. It’s bottled at 48%.

Smell: Pineapple. Grapefruit. White grapes. Melon. Now some soft, fleeting peat smoke drifts through. Menthol and fresh mint. Herbal and malty – grassy, straw. Vanilla and honey. Buttered scones with apricot jam. Lemon curd.

Taste: Salted caramel. Toffee. Tingly, peppery spice dances on the tongue. There’s a touch of young oak with malted barley. It’s quite creamy. There are custard cream biscuits and milky tea. The peat and dry smoke comes through on the finish.

Thoughts: I needn’t have worried about the wrath of the midgie because this is really good. The dram is a no age statement release but there’s no suggestion of immaturity. There’s a nice balance between sweet and salty and that contrasts nicely with the dry smoky finish. The Ardnamurchan team have clearly had some fun with this release, not just in terms of the marketing but in the liquid itself. This is no novelty whisky but it is fun. And delicious.

Price: £52. A great price in today’s market.

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For more about Ardnamurchan visit here

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