Ardnamurchan AD/Sherry Cask Release tasting notes

Ardnamurchan AD/Sherry Cask Release NAS OB 70cl 50% ABV
Distilled 2018 & 2019, bottled September 3, 2024
A mix of 19 Oloroso butts and 2 Pedro Ximénez butts (8 unpeated and 13 peated)
Bottle 10/1,600 (exclusive to the American market, from a total release of 21,000)



Color: mahogany. Absolutely stunning.
Nose: smoke, chocolate-covered nuts, raisins, lacquer, peaches, figs, dates, damp newspaper, soy sauce, caramel, peat, a hint of rubber, tobacco, tea leaves, cherries, and mint. A lot of unmistakably typical sherry notes, yet they take their time to emerge, starting off muted and only unfolding with time.
Taste: cherries, peat, chocolate, cocoa, nuts, pepper, licorice, sea salt, vanilla ice cream, and lemon zest. Not overly sweet, with beautifully balanced salty, maritime accents.
Finish: cherries, peat, honey, more pepper, salted caramel, chocolate, and cocoa.
Score: 8 ½. Good. +1+2+1.

Conclusion: a pleasantly enjoyable malt with well-integrated sherry influence. Keeping the proportion of PX casks to about 10% was a wise choice, ensuring the sweetness doesn't overwhelm the balance. The aroma, however, remains somewhat weak, though I'll still bump the total score up to 86/100. Unfortunately, their usually reliable QR code fell short this time, failing to provide full details on my bottle. The cask data above is based on the European release. This batch is often mistaken for the previous Ardnamurchan sherry edition from 2023, which included slightly more casks but yielded significantly fewer bottles — a direct result of that mix containing smaller hogsheads.

Various Artists — Sing Out! (1981) @@@+

This acoustic music festival took place at the Berkeley Community Theater in Berkeley, CA, on April 25, 1981. Organized as a benefit for the Seva Foundation by Wavy Gravy — who also served as the event's host — it was entirely recorded by Owsley "Bear" Stanley, who would relocate from California to Australia the following year.

The concert opened with a solo performance by Country Joe McDonald. His energetic set featured the brilliant, sci-fi-infused folk song Picks and Lasers, about a guy mining ore on Mars. He also delivered Slide Trombone Blues, showcasing his skills on the trombone, and, of course, the legendary Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag, complete with a raucous "fuck cheer" aimed at Ronald Reagan — a rousing way to kick off the day.

Next up was folk singer Rosalie Sorrels, accompanied by guitarist Mitch Greenhill. Her performance was engaging, though the cabaret-style vocals may not have been to everyone's taste. Among other songs, she performed You've Got to Go to Sleep Alone by Jimmie Dale Gilmore and I Remember Loving You by Utah Phillips, both of which resonated well.

This concluded the first disc of the three-CD edition. The second disc opens with Kate Wolf, supported by Nina Gerber on guitar and mandolin, and Ford James on bass. Their performance was truly exceptional — great songs, a commanding voice, and masterful instrumental work. Kate delivered a stunning rendition of The Youngbloods' classic Let's Get Together, with Wavy Gravy joining in.

The recording then shifts to a largely forgettable 20-minute percussion set by Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, followed by the arrival of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir — essentially a stripped-down Grateful Dead lineup, sans Phil Lesh and Brent Mydland. John Kahn of the Jerry Garcia Band stepped in on upright bass. Their set featured several traditional numbers, a beautifully understated Friend of the Devil, Marty Robbins' El Paso, which shone in the acoustic setting, and a rare rendition of Oh Boy! — a stellar performance overall.

The festival closed with Odetta. Although her set was recorded, negotiations with her estate prevented its inclusion in this release — a real shame, as it was considered one of the standout moments of the event. To ensure she wasn't overlooked, the organizers included a full article in the booklet about the performance.

Overall, it was a good day with a number of memorable acts.