Tastes

Review #081 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 50.1% Comments: NAS, spirit made using roasted black malt, cask types not disclosed Tasted after: Ardbeg Ardcore Appearance (no score): Pale straw color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, it beads up very quickly, but legs are slow to form. Nose: 15/20 Sweet vanilla, caramel, oak spice, nuts, brown sugar, and little peat smoke. There’s also a hint of something chemical, pool chlorine perhaps? Palate: 28/40 Very mild. It’s nutty with a whiff of savory smoke, a little dark chocolate, and a drop of molasses. I’m really struggling to find anything else. Finish: 30/40 Medium finish. Ashes and oak spices transition to a flavor which reminds me of having just ate some extra dark chocolate. It ends with a slight menthol note and cooling sensation. With Water: A couple drops of water add yellow pears to the nose, a little salt to the palate, and amplifies the oak spices in the finish. Total: 73/100 Final thoughts: Generally I really like the Ardbeg committee releases, but this one falls short. It was fun though to try this after the 46% release and see how different the flavor profile is. This whisky is very smooth for being 50.1%, but it’s also lacking bold flavors and complexity. It’s a fine sipping dram but not one that I’d ever seek out. Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample. Price: gifted sample Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #080 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: NAS, spirit made using roasted black malt, cask types not disclosed Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Pale straw color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 14/20 Nutty, earthy, and something that reminds me of a log of rotting wood. I’m also smelling spent coffee grounds, vanilla, and just a hint of smoldering embers, more of a burnt/charred smell than smoke. Palate: 27/40 Ashes, bitter baking cocoa, spicy oak tannins, black pepper, salt, and coffee grounds. It’s very mild compared to other Ardbeg’s I’ve tried. Finish: 30/40 Medium finish. Starts off with smoke, then a hint of lemon citrus cuts through and it becomes mildly sweet. Milk and honey maybe? It doesn’t last long, fading quickly to salt and more smoke, albeit milder now. The ending taste left behind is of a dark chocolate covered espresso bean, and this may be my favorite part of this dram. With Water: A couple drops of water brings out some nice maltiness on the nose and palate. Total: 71/100 Final thoughts: Overall this bottle ended up being a disappointment. Rather than a “spiky ball” as advertised, I find it to be very mellow and subdued compared to other Ardbeg’s I’ve tried. When I grabbed the last bottle on the shelf, I was thinking about other single malts I’ve enjoyed that used roasted chocolate malt and assumed this might be similar. Now after doing a little homework I know better, these are very different animals which produce wildly different flavors. It’s a decent bottle, but so many other superior ones for a better price that I’d rather spend my money on. In my opinion, this is probably the biggest disappointment yet of the Ardbeg special releases to date. Price: $115 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #079 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: NAS, matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in ex-rum casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Golden straw color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 15/20 Molasses, caramel and grilled pineapple stand out. The smoke is here but it’s softer, more subtle than I’m accustomed to with Ardbeg, accompanied by a bit of lime zest a briny coastal breeze. Palate: 33/40 The classic Ardbeg ashy smoke flavor shines through here. It’s mingled with a plethora of fruits too. I can pick out bananas and pineapple but it tastes like there’s more, a hint of coconut too maybe. Brown sugar and molasses add to the sweetness. None of its punchy though, all these flavors are subtle and blend into something enjoyable, just not great or wow-worthy. Finish: 30/40 Medium-long finish. Sooty smoke throughout, mingling with burnt bacon and black pepper. It’s fairly consistent throughout, but ends on a softer note with a hint of vanilla. No noticeable rum cask influence here. With Water: A couple drops of water brings out a little vanilla on the nose and banana on the finish. Very minor changes, almost imperceptible. Total: 78/100 Final thoughts: I’m a big fan of peated whiskies, and of rum cask finishes. I had high hopes for this bottle. The kaleidoscope of flavors here is wonderful, but they’re all too subtle. Instead it’s another disappointing Ardbeg special release. It’s enjoyable to drink, but not worth the price tag, and leaves me wishing I’d been able to track down a committee release version instead. Price: $95 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #078 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: NAS, matured in heavily charred ex-bourbon casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 16/20 Black smoke and vanilla are most prominent. There’s also hints of barbecued meats, rusted metal, and briny coastal breeze. Strangely enough, maybe a few soap suds also? Palate: 34/40 Sooty ashes and smoked ham greet the palate. Searching deeper, there’s adhesive bandages (reminds me of how Laphroaig 10 smells), heavy cream, vanilla, black pepper, and citrus zest too. Finish: 32/40 Medium-long finish. It’s soot and wet ashes that kick it off, and this runs through to the end mingling with some mild briny and rubber flavors, then a bit of oak spice appears at the very end. With Water: A couple drops of water makes the nose is a bit sweeter, with yellow apples and cinnamon sugar. It also introduces some spicy oak tannins to the palate, but dilutes the other flavors too much. Total: 82/100 Final thoughts: This is a really nice whisky, but it’s not worth the price tag. I’m glad I had an opportunity to try it, but I’m sorry I had to buy a whole bottle to do so. I like the influence that the heavy charred casks had on the spirit, but watered down and muted a bit too much I think. I can’t help but wonder what the committee release version tastes like. Price: $110 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #077 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 47.4% Comments: aged 5 years, matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 14/20 Vanilla, peat smoke, and lemon zest are most prominent. Some additional nosing also reveals some orange peel, molasses, and honey. Palate: 30/40 Oak spices and campfire smoke lead on the first sip. There’s also sweet honey, some vanilla, white pepper, and toasted bread. Finish: 31/40 Medium finish. Starts off with bold spicy oak tannins and black pepper. It becomes mildly salty throughout, fading from spice and pepper to bitter citrus notes, then becoming nutty, and eventually ending by leaving an ashy aftertaste behind. With Water: A couple drops of water emphasizes the honey sweetness on the palate and somewhat mutes the pepper and spice notes on the finish. Total: 75/100 Final thoughts: I’m actually very impressed with this bottle, for an Ardbeg it punches way above its price point. I think it’s better than a number of limited release expressions they’ve come out with. It’s not a whirlwind of complex flavors but it’s a solid dram at a good value. I actually bought this bottle with the intention of making some old fashioned cocktails with it. That said I’ve sipped my way through more than half the bottle already and haven’t tried one yet! Price: $40 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #076 Type: single malt scotch whisky Proof: 46% Comments: aged 14 years, cask types not disclosed Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Sweet here, but also mellow. Honey mostly, with some stone fruit in the form of apricots and cherries as well. And there’s a subtle aroma of a fermented grapes, but I can’t quite pinpoint the wine type. All rounded out with hints of fresh baked bread and butter. Palate: 33/40 I never get tired of the waxy impression this imparts on the first sip. It’s more subtly sweet here as compared as the nose. Instead it’s pasty forward, like buttered and lightly salted fruit scones. Tart crisp apples accompany this with a little savory caramel and a dash of cinnamon. Finish: 32/40 Medium finish. It starts on a savory and salty note, then shifts back towards highlighting more more of those bread flavors. The sweetness is gone though, now it’s more of a hearty wheat loaf, maybe salted crackers too, before ending on a leafy and earthy tobacco flavor. Then oddly enough I had a small burp after finishing my second sip, and the flavor that came to mind was canned peaches. With Water: The tart and crisp apples I was tasting on the palate are now very evident on the nose, and there’s some vanilla that I’m noticing now which I don’t remember smelling before. It’s also a totally different animal on the palate - still sweet and pastry forward but bolder now, and a bit hotter. And that tobacco note that ended the finish is a bit smokier now, like I just took a drag on a cigar. Total: 82/100 Final thoughts: This bottle is a favorite of mine to begin tastings with. It’s a downright good whisky and easy sipper on its own, but is also very dynamic and foundational. I’ve found that it lends itself well towards supporting a number of different flavor profiles. It’s starting to get a bit expensive up my way, but is still a bottle I that I try to keep a spare of on hand. Price: $68 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #075 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: aged 15 years, matured in a combination of 1st-fill bourbon and sherry casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Mahogany color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 16/20 Plumbs, raisins, vanilla, cinnamon, dark chocolate, subtle sweet smoke, old worn leather, and a hint of orange zest. It’s sweet, but also a bit earthy and musty, and nicely complex. Palate: 33/40 Ashes, bitter dark chocolate, orange rind, peat smoke, spicy oak tannins, burnt caramel, salt, and spent coffee grounds. Finish: 33/40 Medium-long finish. Its peppery, invoking flavors reminiscent of barbecue, a bit of baked apple sweetness appears along with some licorice as it slowly mellows out, ending with subtle hints of bitter oak tannins. With Water: A couple drops of water enhances the smoke profile on the nose and introduces some sticky sweet dark fruit notes to the palate. Total: 82/100 Final thoughts: This is a whisky that I think that surprises and punches above expectations. For starters, it’s not as fruity or sweet as I thought it might be based on the cask types and nose. Also the flavor profile and length of the finish are pleasantly bold, complex, and long for only being bottled at 43%. This is a solid bottle and nice slow sipper that I’ll probably eventually replace once it’s empty. Price: $95 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #074 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 58.5% Comments: aged 10 years, matured in ex-bourbon barrels, bottle originated from batch 16, bottled in December 2022 Tasted after: Laphroaig 10 Year Appearance (no score): Auburn color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 18/20 Lemon rind and grilled pineapple mingle with smooth vanilla, black tea, and a bit of coconut. After resting and nosing for a couple minutes, the iconic adhesive bandages and iodine notes begin to make their presence known, but remain subtle, as does the peat smoke. Palate: 34/40 Spicy oak tannins and ashes dominate here, accompanied by puffs of peat smoke, honey, lemon candies, licorice, burnt caramel, and sea salt. Finish: 35/40 Nice long finish, here is where this whisky truly shines! Some adhesive bandages and old rubber tires kick things off with a moderate lingering peat smoke, then just briefly it takes a sweeter turn with honey and something tropical, grilled mango perhaps? Slowly those becomes more spicy and bitter with oak tannins and black tea, fading to ashes, dried seaweed, and sea salt. With Water: A couple drops of water brought out some really enjoyable milk chocolate on the palate which also seemed to mute some of the spicy flavors and smooth it out a bit. This has an interesting side effect whereby I now also perceive that the intensity of the finish has increased slightly. Total: 87/100 Final thoughts: It was certainly a fun roller coaster to sit down with this bottle after a few sips of the standard 10 year. This one is a lot more citrus forward and sweeter, but less medicinal. This is a great whisky, but I personally really enjoy the unique medicinal, industrial, and maritime qualities that make the 10 year so unique, so I was disappointed to see less of those in this bottle. Still it’s a uniquely different and exceptional bottle in it’s own right! Price: $74 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #073 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: aged 10 years, matured in ex-bourbon barrels Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 18/20 I never get tired of the medicinal nose on this one. Adhesive bandages and iodine lead, accompanied by peat smoke, with softer notes of worn leather, cinnamon, green apples, and a hint of salty sea breeze. Palate: 34/40 Peat smoke, iodine, asphalt, old rubber tires, bitter black tea, and sea salt. It’s positively filthy and savory and delicious. There’s also hints of something sweeter though, with the smallest traces of vanilla and burnt caramel in the background, which become a bit more evident as I continue sipping. Finish: 30/40 Medium finish. The smoke from the palate carries through to kick things off, but now it reminds me more cigar smoke. It quickly transitions to soot and wet ashes, and there’s a bit of citrus zest as it fades out. The ending taste on my tongue is of bitter black tea. With Water: A couple drops of water emphasizes the vanilla on the palate and introduces some subtle herbal flavors. Vanilla is also evident in the finish now, which is ending on a salty note that seems to have replaced the black tea. Total: 82/100 Final thoughts: I think the nose is my favorite part of this bottle, the palate is very good also but the finish is lacking by comparison. I often joke with my friends that this is a whisky that separates the boys from the men (mainly because most of them don’t care for it). By contrast I never get tired of this dram - it’s always a delight, and kind to my wallet as well. Price: $49 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #072 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 58.4% Comments: aged 7 years, peated to 50ppm, matured in a 1st-fill PX hogshead Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Mahogany color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, it starts to bead up quickly, but legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Dark chocolate, wisps of campfire smoke, prunes, baked apples, honey glazed ham, and cinnamon. Palate: 34/40 Cinnamon raisin toast, plumbs, charcoal, more dark chocolate, a hint of dark cherries, and a little bit of something else that reminds me of grilled vegetables. Finish: 31/40 Medium finish. Smoky ash gets things started, then there’s a small splash of orange citrus before it turns bitter and drying. Oxidized and rusted metal comes to mind actually. The ending notes are of bitter oak tannins. With Water: A few drops of water brings out some additional sweetness on the palate and introduces some apricot, also adding a bit of salinity to the end of the finish. Total: 82/100 Final thoughts: When I purchased this bottle I was in a bit of a Kilchoman deep dive, and had wondered what a single cask Kilchoman might taste like. Then I found this bottle matured in PX (a favorite of mine) and couldn’t resist. I probably built up too great a hype in my mind, and it didn’t measure up. I’ve found that it needs a good 10-15 minutes to breath before finding it’s footing. It’s a good whisky but not worth the price tag. Price: $129 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.