Cadenhead's Chairman's Stock Ardnamurchan 5 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Cadenhead’s Chairman’s Stock Ardnamurchan 5 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a vibrant and adventurous young Highland malt that boldly showcases sherry-influenced maturation, savory complexity, and spirited intensity. Its assertive character and rich aromatic profile make it ideal for those who appreciate youthful dynamism married with depth and craft-driven maturation.

Origins & Craftsmanship

This expression hails from Ardnamurchan Distillery, located on Scotland’s rugged west coast in the Highland region. Established in 2014, Ardnamurchan has quickly become known for its hybridization of peated and unpeated spirit within a modern production ethos that still honors traditional techniques.

The whisky in this bottling was distilled in 2019 and matured for five years in an oloroso sherry-seasoned hogshead cask, a choice that imparts pronounced sherry-derived influence within a relatively youthful life cycle. Bottled in 2025 at cask strength (around 59.9 % ABV) under the Chairman’s Stock label, this release reflects Cadenhead’s practice of selecting special casks from private stocks once curated by the late chairman Hedley G. Wright. These selections emphasize character, individuality, and the dynamic interaction between wood and spirit.

Tasting Profile

Nose:
An enticing and layered aromatics suite opens with sugarcane and strawberry-jam notes, evolving into savory pancetta, aromatic herbs, and a hint of bothy fire, offering a dual sweetness and smoky interplay.

Palate:
Full and intense, the palate delivers a balance of BBQ ribs-like savoriness, rich strawberry tart jelly, and spice elements reminiscent of paprika and tomato purée, with a compelling backbone from sherry-seasoned oak that cuts through the youth with complexity.

Finish:
Lingering and savory, with echoes of sea salt, paprika, marjoram, and molasses that persist, drawing the experience into a long, satisfying conclusion.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Recipes

Sherry-Cask Highball

• 1.5 oz Ardnamurchan 5 Year Chairman’s Stock

• 3 oz chilled soda water
  Build in a highball glass with ice; gently stir. Garnish with a lemon twist to accentuate brightness against savory depth.

Savory Rob Roy

• 2 oz Ardnamurchan 5 Year Chairman’s Stock

• 0.75 oz sweet vermouth

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  Stir with ice and strain into a chilled coupe; garnish with an expressed orange peel to complement the sherried fruit notes.