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Ardbeg
Scotland
Single Malt
An Ardbeg that's said to be "as deep as the ocean" thanks to the use of virgin Black Sea oak casks sourced by Dr. Bill Lumsden from the Adyghe Republic in Russia. Whisky from these casks has then been married with regular bourbon cask matured Ardbeg and bottled for Fèis Ìle 2017 at 46%. The kelpie from which this release takes its name is a mischievous water spirit, which might be able to take the form of a horse, or a bull, and may have claws, or be a dog with the head of an ant, that flies. Or Crab Nicholson.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
This is a fantastic release from Ardbeg! Although few things can match the Corryvreckan for sheer bombast, the Kelpie takes a different tack, dialing things down a bit (for Ardbeg) and presenting a very well balanced and thoughtful palate of Ardbeg's characteristic "everything" - smoke and sweet and peat all at once. Imagine it as a very happy marriage between the Uigeadail and the Corryvreckan: perfect if you wanted something intensely Ardbeg but not quite as crazy as it can get.
This is a good whisky. The nose is rich and quite intense, true. The palate is peppery and bitter in the good sense of the term (woodwork maybe?). For those who like the oily texture, the intense peat and the salty taste in the back of the mouth, it's well balanced. There is also a kind of fruitiness going on (but not very subtle and detailed). The finish is long and enjoyable. But... At the price tag, Uigeadail or Corryvreckan are far better. At least Kelpie's got a name you can pronounce and spell without much hesitation and is better than the awful Perpetuum, the forgettable Auriverdes and the overpraised Dark Cove. I'm quite surprised by most tasting notes I can read across the Internet, looking exactly like an official press release.
Great release! Got this one, could not get my hands on the committee release. When I first opened it up, VERY intense. Less peat smoke than TEN but more smokey like on the palate. Quite spicy white pepper but fades nicely to Deep oily dark cocoa. Medium viscosity. After 24 hours had another dram and it was more divine. Made me craving a nice espresso. After one week, just had another dram and all I want is another bottle. Better than uigeadail. Don't remember Corryvreckan. I'm sure I stand alone with these. A must for an Ardbeggian.
Overall an it's a great ardbeg but with some interesting subtleties. This does taste "different" from the other ardbeg line ups but exactly how is difficult to really describe. The maritime notes are undoubtedly more pronounced and by virtue the peat is less relevant. A really good example of how small shifts in production greatly change the profile
Very intense as soon as the bottle opens. Not like any other Ardbeg. Less peat smoke than Ten. More smoked than peaty. At first salty on the palate. Loads of spice that smooths out and gives way to deep rich dark chocolate. Hangs around for a long finish that is reminiscent of smoked fish, like the type you'd put on a cracker for a picnic by the sea. Begs for a hot cup of espresso following this one. Very Ardbeg! A gem of a dram for Ardbeg day. Highly recommend for a $109 price tag in MI.