Style: Sweet and Smoky
Nose:
Ardbeggian signatures taking a slight confectionaries turn. Gentle heat, liquorice candy coating around some lemon balm, grapes and apricots semi-glazed while smoking water building up from the background. Distant hay and peat smoke flickering, white pepper sprinkled on a dash of brine. Orange notes beginning to grow at the core.
Palate:
Sweet lemon liquorice on one end and hay peat smoke on the other. Cold sweet wine flowing over the top, a big bite of smoked chocolate apricot, treacle and lemon aloe vera slotted in one level down. This is really sweet. Slightly dispersed, sooty smoke fluttering in and out to the background. Small stack of dry grass torched, with brine on the side and tar sinking in. Medicinal overtone at the back, liquorice roots to finish.
Finish:
Citrus fruits falling onto a layer of aloe vera and liquorice. Faint coal embers, a delicate end.
Thoughts:
Another year, another Ardbeg, maybe it’s time to introduce age statements into the equation? Anyway, this is a surprisingly sweet Ardbeg, rich and round elements patching up the spirit nicely to give a coherent presentation. Whether it be strong cask influence (heavily charred red wine casks) or/both using more matured casks, it keeps a good composure and easy drinking. Edging towards one star region.
✓ [Recommended if you like the style/ distillery]
[46% • Original Bottling • Limited Edition • 2018 Bottled • Non Chill Filtered • Non Coloured • T+]
Thanks to the good people Moet and Hennessy Australia for providing the sample!
-Esmond
WhiskNick 