Nose Sea salt and brine with some dark fruit and hints of barbecue. Maple syrup, plum, orange, mint and more herbal notes with a touch of tomato vine. White coffee develops.
Palate Big - it feels like all the moisture is being sucked out of your mouth at first but in a good way(!). Salt crusted raisins, rich nuttiness, pickled onions. Sounds odd but it’s honestly superb!
Finish There's red chilli heat on the finish as well as paprika.
Overall Ardbeg should be celebrated for their measured use of Manzanilla casks here - one of the best bottlings at Fèis Ìle 2013.