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Ardbeg
Scotland
Single Malt
A fascinating one from Ardbeg, Heavy Vapours is the Islay distillery's whisky with the gloves taken off. Meaning it was distilled without using Ardbeg’s purifier. Typically, vapours that rise up the still are captured by this piece of equipment, which sits on the lyne arm of Ardbeg’s spirit still. It captures heavier compounds and condenses them, causing them to fall back into the still. The vapours fall back into the still, are heated again, and so rise again. This purifying process is said to bring a floral fruitiness that balances the spirit's powerful peat, but that's been avoided here to bring a more full-throttle Ardbeg whisky, which was bottled without chill-filtration at 46% ABV.
*UK and retail only. Offer from 14 03 2024, while stock lasts.
It's so deep and earthy Alice might think it's a route into Wonderland. There's smouldering soil and rock pool salinity (almost bordering on chlorine), as well as a minty/eucalyptus quality that develops into After Eight mints. Cardamom follows, as well as sweetness from tinned peaches and treacle, as well as a strange funkiness akin to Gruyère. Interesting stuff.
You would think Ardbeg without the purifier would come out punching, but this is a more relaxed intensity. Thick ashy smoke drifts through a palate rich with dark chocolate, apples, charred honeyed meat, and a little cumin.
Old coffee, more chocolate, smouldering wood, and minty herbs.
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This is another phenomenal limited release from Dr. Lumsden. I’ve bought it after reading all the bad reviews and thought it couldn’t be. No, this is not an Ardbeg 1977 BUT it bears its name and shares a component: a really long finish. Ash and smoke that sticks in your mouth for hours and some dark chocolate that lingers on your tongue forever. This is definitely a mixed Ardbeg blend with older years in the making; yes there are some younger (8-9 year old) thing in there but there is definitely much older than 13-14 years in that batch as the mouth feel is so complex, the arrival very smooth and the finish lingering. Is it the best bang for your buck? No, get the Uigaedail! But is it worth it as a one off? Absolutely!!
A vapour of shite
The peat is subdued, the dram is quite fruity. Altogether, not the best Ardbeg, but definitely not the worst.
As someone who has previously loved Ardbeg, this bottling is an example of a distillery heading in the wrong direction. Young whisky with Gimmicky names and labels aimed at sucking people into paying a high price for a half assed dram. This is not one for people looking for excitement or complexity.
Really nice drink ?
