Tastes

12.3.2020 Ardbeg Uigeadail, modern expression, open bottle. NAS 54,2% Color: yellow amber Nose: very sweet peaty smoke, marmalade, camp fire, sherry, oak begins to make an appearance after a while. Some toffee as well. Adding water opens some delicate floral notes and more pronounced sherry. Palate: very ashy, peaty and smoky initially. Strong alcohol content gives a formidable structure to this dram. Oak arises after a while in a pleasant woody note. With water it’s not diluted too much - instead more palatable Finish: ashes and cigar smoke that diminishes slowly into a pleasant oily, even buttery mouthfeel. Very greasy. Glass: classic Glencairn

Nose: peat, smoke and nail polish (straight from the neck of the bottle), sherry and sweet floral notes. Even some caramel after letting the dram rest in the glass. Adding water removes the alcohol vapors and lets the sweeter scents and especially sherry notes through, but also dilutes some of the power from this 43%. Color: bright amber, orange Taste: surprising sharpness, I remember earlier expressions having less alcoholic sharpness and burn, but maybe it’s the neck. Ash, peaty smoke, evaporating turpentine. Later on some salt at the back of the mouth. Water tones this down, not helping a great deal. After a while brown sugar, Sherry and floral notes appear more distinctly. Finish: phenomenally long finish. Mostly smoldering ash from a campfire, maybe some burnt tobacco as well 4.3.2020, new Lagavulin 16 Glass: small white wine glass