[58.5% • 10 Years Old • Bottled in 2012 • SMWS Bottling • Single Cask Release of 219 Bottles]
I had this Australian exclusive which doubled as the most powerful and unique Ardbeg expressions I have had to date:-
Nose:
The nose is ashy with seaweed and charred oak notes. It really is like a Bon fire. Some Brazilian roast meat, some light sweetness here and there. Smoked salmon notes comes through with time along with a fuller medicinal notes.
Palate & Finish:
Sweet at first on the palate with a touch of peppery spices. Then POW, a massive hit of big peat and WOOF a numbingly hot wave of chilli. The smoke and peat spices stay put for a long while.
A touch of fructose in the finish with some delicate vanilla grind but the ashiness just keeps going and going. Having a full dram of this is like getting your tastebuds hammered by a chunk of burning peat with every sip.
Thoughts:
What a powerful beast. Extraordinary.
☆☆ [Highly Recommended]
-Nicholas
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