Single Malt
Scotland
No
Yes
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.
Probably my favorite scotch! Tasty smoky treat!
Firm and very smooth whisky. If you are chewing it like you should it explodes on your tongue. A hot and alcoholic finish. Firm favourite though I prefer Corryvreckan. 91/100
I bought this as a newbie to Single Malts. After I bought it I read something to the effect of "newbies shouldn't try it as their palates may not be developed enough to appreciate it"...that review was spot on. My first experience as follows: upon opening I was nearly floored by the smoky smell of the peat...certainly my first thought was "barbecue before the meat gets cooking"...got past that and moved in for my first sip...smelled band aids/iodine...tasted the phenols and fish initially. I told a coworker that "I felt like I was drinking smoked fish"...as I learned the bottle and proceeded over the next few years (read: as my palate became more developed, the vanilla and caramel began to come through...really enjoyed this one. May get another one along with the 10 so I can make an accurate comparison.
I have a bottle of Lagavulin 16, Laphroaig 10, and this Uigaedail. I love both the Laga and the Laph. But the Uigeadail was unpleasant when I first opened it. A deeply unpleasant burnt plastic/rubber smell. Not peaty. Toxic smelling, like bottled TianJin explosion essence. It was as if they'd left an old wellington boot in the still. It's not like I'm spooked by ppm- tried the Octomore 7.1 and loved it. I was so incredulous given the rave reviews, I brought my bottle over to compare with a friends Uigaedail side by side. And indeed, his was delicious, just as everyone said. He agreed that mine tasted like poison. I have no idea what happened to mine. I've aired it for a couple weeks and the burnt plastic has dissipated a bit so I can at least drink it. Has anyone else had this happen? I've given a mixed score because mine was awful, but my friends Uigeadail was outstanding.
I will update my review from a few months ago wherein I misquoted someone else. It should have read "like drinking a burning church". Indeed! How could I possibly improve upon that description?
