Adelphi & Ardnamurchan
Scotland’s most acclaimed bottler of rare single cask and limited edition single malt whisky
We exist to identify the very small number of casks that have produced the ultimate whiskies. The criteria for selection include rarity and maturity, but above all flavour.
Adelphi whiskies are both rare and sought-after - these very special casks are so rare that, on average, Adelphi accepts a mere 4% that it is offered. Each single cask of whisky matures its contents very differently, imparting its own character to the whisky it holds and, as a result, there are never two Adelphis quite the same.
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More About Adelphi
Adelphi was founded in 1992 as an independent bottler of Scotch whisky. The name comes from the original Loch Katrine Adelphi Distillery that existed in Glasgow between 1826 and 1928.
As an independent bottler, Adelphi has always sought to select only the finest mature casks of whisky that appeal to its own selection panel, chaired by Charles MacLean. This has meant that Adelphi bottlings have always been rare and limited in supply, and the company therefore made the decision to build its own distillery again, to preserve quality and quantity for the future. Adelphi began constructing a distillery on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in 2013, and completed in July 2014.
Ahead of launching the Ardnamurchan Single Malt, Adelphi has established key distribution to over 25 markets worldwide. Although it remains a niche producer, it has built an image of ultimate quality and disruptive product innovation: the introduction of “fusion” blending in 2015, bringing to life famous Scots who have played important roles in countries all over the world by blending Scotch whisky with whisky from those countries. The fusion portfolio now includes the Glover with Japan, the E&K with India, the Brisbane with Australia and the Winter Queen with Holland.
In addition, Adelphi has begun to pilot the use of blockchain encryption for product transparency, traceability and authenticity. This is a first for Scotch whisky, and has already gained significant traction within the industry and markets in the Far East in particular.
Adelphi Selection
Adelphi selects around 100 casks of mature Scotch whisky per annum for its independent labels. On average, a mere 4% are chosen to be bottled as single casks.
The whiskies are bottled in limited releases of between 100 and 700 bottles, at natural colour and strength.
The selection criteria is driven by taste, with distillery name, region and style of less importance.
Over the last 25 years, Adelphi has not only established key distribution, but also important supply arrangements with distillers and brokers throughout the industry, both in Scotland and overseas (for its Fusion range).
Distillery Location
The Ardnamurchan peninsula is a wonderfully remote “finger” of rocky land that stretches out to the furthest westerly point of the UK, just to the north of the Isle of Mull, and south of the Isle of Skye. It is accessed initially by a small ferry, and then by a narrow and twisty single track road. It is famous for its outstanding and untouched beauty and abundance of natural resources.
The Ardnamurchan Distillery is situated half way along the peninsula in the small village of Glenbeg. It was designed to both look like a distillery, and also fit in with the surrounding buildings.
The size of the distillery was governed by the width of the road, which is only 3.2 metres at its narrowest point. The largest mash tun that could be transported along the road was 2 tonnes. The distillery was also designed to enjoy a close, symbiotic relationship with the neighbouring farm and estate.
Renewable energy and full circle distilling
Ardnamurchan is the first distillery in Scotland to rely entirely on locally sourced heat and power. The biomass boiler is supplied with woodchip from surrounding forestry, and the electricity comes from a hydro-electric generator on the river which also supplies its cooling water.
All co-products from the mash and distillation are passed back to the farm for cattle feed and fertiliser.
The company also operates a wider circle approach to its distilling and bottling: Adelphi’s main offices and bottling warehouse are located further south in Scotland, in Fife near Edinburgh, and is situated on farmland owned by its Managing Director’s family for over 400 years. It makes full use of this relationship by directly contracting the farmer to grow barley for the distillery. After distillation and maturation in Ardnamurchan, the final whisky will return to Fife for bottling and global despatch.
Distilling at Ardnamurchan
Adelphi designed Ardnamurchan to produce a full flavoured malt true to its region (West Highland). It produces an unpeated spirit and a peated spirit.
The 2 tonne semi-lauter mash is operated with very little raking (only a slight turn to allow for good oil retention). The wort is recycled until fully clear and then moved to one of 4 wooden washbacks or 3 stainless steel. The wooden washbacks are designed to retain a more constant heat in the winter.
2 types of distillers yeast are used for the unpeated: Anchor and Fermentis; and just Anchor is used for the peated.
10,000 litres of wash is then passed to the 10,000 litre wash still and from there to the 6000 litre spirit still. The cut is relatively short for peated, and a little longer for unpeated, but run incredibly slowly in both cases.
The spirit is then moved to the maturation warehouses and filled into ex-Bourbon barrels from Old Forrester, and ex-Sherry hogsheads and butts supplied from Spain. Warehouse no. 1 is built into the hillside on 2 levels, with the lower level retaining moisture and a constant cool temperature year round, and the upper level fluctuating in temperature and far drier. The former is best for long term maturation, while the latter accelerates maturation.
Ardnamurchan has been producing around 180,000 litres of alcohol per year for the last 3 years. The original 2 warehouses are now full, and 3 more have been built further up the hillside.
Style
The entire process has been designed to create an overall flavour profile that is expected from this area: gentle peat smoke, rich oily/honey and dark fruit palate, chili pepper, sea salt and a little more smoke in the finish.
The first Ardnamurchan Single Malt will be released in 2021, and will be a combination of both spirit and wood types.
Adelphi may also release small batches of its Ardnamurchan to highlight the individual styles: unpeated, peated, ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry.
In the meantime, Adelphi is bottling annual small batch releases of mature spirit as a “window” into the future of the brand.
The Future brand
With 4 year’s distillation now completed, Adelphi has now reached optimal level production of 400,000 litres of alcohol per year. It has employed a further 5 operators and has been operating a 2 shift, 6 day week since May 2018.
From late 2019 it will begin to move some of the most mature casks down to its bottling warehouse in Fife, and start to put the first Single malt together for release in 2021.
By 2030, Adelphi will have produced enough stock and created enough demand worldwide to enable it to sell around 60,000 cases per annum.The Future brand
With 4 year’s distillation now completed, Adelphi has now reached optimal level production of 400,000 litres of alcohol per year. It has employed a further 5 operators and has been operating a 2 shift, 6 day week since May 2018.
From late 2019 it will begin to move some of the most mature casks down to its bottling warehouse in Fife, and start to put the first Single malt together for release in 2021.
By 2030, Adelphi will have produced enough stock and created enough demand worldwide to enable it to sell around 60,000 cases per annum.
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