A special edition single malt launched on Ardbeg Day 2014 - a day celebrated both at the Islay festival, Fèis Ìle and around the world. Auri(Gold)verdes(Green) is a name used to refer to Brazil's sports teams (including the football team, of course), but in this case it refers to the golden whisky and the iconic Ardbeg green bottle it dwells within. Striker!
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
Smoked bacon, Tarry ropes on a not-long-dry seashore. Loads of Vanilla. Pomegranates, Fizzy-sweets (refreshers, Sherbet Lemons) and Lemon-zest. Not convinced I’d have got Mocha, if not for the autosuggestion, but it’s definitely there now I think about it.
Initially sweet, restrained, more of that bacon, but this time it’s been cured with Muscovado sugar and maybe a touch of Juniper? Progresses through the inevitable onslaught of peat, but it’s there in a slightly different way – more ‘high’, medicinal phenols than we've come to expect with Ardbeg. From the palate alone, I’m not even sure I’d peg this as Ardbeg – I might be tempted to go two distilleries further down the coast…
Long. Cocoa, Charred corners of a pulled pork butt, becomes more ashy as it fades, but clearly from good honest casks albeit with charred heads.
It’s good. Funnily though, as the spirit’s not being bombarded with finishes/extreme cask-techniques the difference between this and the 10yo is strangely pronounced. There are palpable elements of Bowmore, and Laphroaig in this dram, whilst it does absolutely retain the overall Ardbeg character we know and love. To my mind that’s a good thing.
But i like Ardbog better.
This one tastes a bit like a mix of Uigeadail, 10yo and Alligator. I first tried it on Ardbeg Day in Stockholm and liked it, so I bought a bottle which is now open. I liked it even more the second time around and am considering buying another for the collection. It's much smoother than the salty Ardbog (which I didn't care for) or the peppery Corryvreckan (which I never learned to enjoy). It's kind of sad that it doesn't carry an age statement, but in the end who cares when the taste is this good and the price tag isn't too bad, considering.
I've had every committee release and special release of Ardbeg over the last 10 years and this is as good as any. I like the fact they are going more mellow with this one and stands away a little from the core line-up which gives the drinker the choice of going for a more peat heavy dram if they want or trying something a little different. Is it worth £80? Yes I think so, I don't regret buying mine one bit and I'm really enjoying it, so for me that's value for money.
Its available in US and that too at 110$. Stocked up 3 bottles. Love it.
Had a taste, I recommend you save your money and give this one a miss. A very disappointing ardbeg
