This stunning expression from Islay's Ardbeg distillery on the Kildalton Coast is named after a nearby loch (pronounced "Oog-a-dal"). It's the perfect example of how sweet and savoury notes can work together spectacularly - you'll find Ardbeg's maritime salinity intact here, combined with dried fruit notes imparted by time spent in sherry casks. Kind of like when you mix sweet popcorn and salty popcorn together, it results in something absolutely wonderful.
Multifaceted, notes of peat and little flourishes of dark sugar, freshly ground espresso beans, cereal notes and a most sophisticated tar.
Led by sweet, ripe fruit and black forest honey. A good helping of malt. The throne then usurped by a powerful peat and smoked barley.
Very long, caramel and malt weave their way through peat smoke and dark sugar and just a hint of fresh espresso coffee before it finally peters out.
Such deft balance! How wonderful to sample Ardbeg so beautifully complimented by sherry.
As well as adding gifts to lucky MoM orders, #WhiskySanta is granting wishes on social media every day! Hit the button above and let them know what you'd like. It could be yours!
Full of flavour, beautiful dram, highly recommended for lovers of sherry and peat combo
Reading the review I bought a bottle, well who wouldn't. This is not for me. What happened to the days when distilleries released the most balanced and adequately aged expression of its own environment? This is like Frankensteins monster, an unbalanced and unnatural experiment in keeping with a modern trend to ditch harmony for discord in search of sales. To late but No thanks!
Stunning . Beautiful balance of sweet , spice and smoke .
May not be a whiskey for everyone as it has a complex variety of flavours that may not be to everyones tastes, but for me this is absolute whiskey heaven. Brings together so many of my favourite elements from the balance of the bourbon and olorosso to the hefty peaty kick and oily finish. It is very surprising that it is 54% as the only way you can tell is that a large glass leaves you feeling the effects of the alcohol more than usual. The taste, however, is not compromised by that extra percentage. I've never needed to add water to this dram, it stands up perfectly. Very surprised by some 1 star reviews on here. Granted it might not suit everyone's palate but personally I never want my house to not have a bottle of this in it. It is the desert island whiskey, if I had to make the choice...truly stunning! Treat yourself and buy it!
As I would have expected from Ardbeg, it’s gorgeous! It’s everything that I enjoy in a Islay whisky! I’m NOT a connoisseur, I just know what I like!
