Tastes

Needs time in the glass to open up. When it does you’ll be rewarded with a big bold arrival of stewed fruit, apple pie and almonds. Bananas, apple, raisins and white pepper wood spice on the finish. Too balanced to deserve the ‘sherry monster’ tag - there’s nothing monstrous about this beautiful dram.

Nicely balanced but slightly flat compared to the best Speysides of a similar age. Inoffensive but boring.

A nose of honey, tea and wet grass. Wildflowers and oats. The arrival is salty and fruity with crystallised ginger, and grapefruit and liquorice appear in the development along with dark fruits. The finish is long, dry and spicy. A decent dram, nicely presented at 48% which is the perfect strength to let this spirit shine.

Oats and raisins on the nose. A long and spicy almond and brown sugar finish. Needs some water as at 60% it gives a real burn otherwise. A really nice whiskey, would be much improved with an age statement.

Toffee and vanilla on the nose. A butterscotch arrival and spicy finish. A nice whiskey but it’s let down but it’s youth.

Fresh cut hay, and a hint of dairy on the nose. Tropical fruit and white pepper on the palette with a spearmint and ripe banana finish. This is an enjoyable dram that doesn’t quite live up to the hype.

Seashells, ash, rubber and raspberry jam on the nose. On first sip a wall of spicy fruit hits which quickly gives way to smoke and a musty, sweet peat. Needs a good few drops of water to really open up, and when it does its glorious. The closest thing in the Ardbeg lineup to Lagavulin 16.

Vanilla, freshly cut grass, orange peel, dark fruit and walnuts on the nose. There’s a layer of honey and caramel sweetness beneath the warm toasted arrival. A spiciness in the finish lingers.

A nutty butter biscuit nose with a red fruit and milk chocolate arrival. In the finish the fruitiness sustains with a hint of Cherry Vimto. A lovely whiskey but lacks the extreme creaminess of the cheaper Green Spot.

Mellow peat and sweet fruit on the nose. Honey in an ashtray. Summer dried hay. A crisp arrival of sweet cherry and a short, strawberry finish. A unique Irish whiskey.