Tastes

51.6% abv; NAS; Non-chill filtered Nose: wow. Lots happening here. That classic deep earth peat and smoke blends nicely with a bouquet of ripe, bright fruits. Picking up melon, pineapple, pears and apples. The nose is a pure joy. Palate: don’t let that nose fool you! Ardbeg Grooves packs a wallop of campfire smoke in its full, viscous mouth feel. As Grooves works you over, all sorts of subtle spice notes (nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and others) and vanilla, along with tropical and orchard fruits make their presence known, but harmoniously. The wine casking shows up the most here, but it does not overwhelm. Phew. Finish: long and strong. The earthy, ashy Ardbeg smoke really lingers on the tongue, in a similar style to the Corryvrecken or Laphroaig Triple Wood. This may be its only blemish, depending on your palate. But the floral and fruit notes still pop through the clouds to add a juicy, almost citrusy-sweet-meringue flavor with a dusting of powdered sugar. And it hangs around forever. Add a dash or two of water, as it tames the smoke a bit and allows the full range of fruit and spice flavors to assert themselves. This is a fantastic dram from Ardbeg. I can’t compare it to other committee releases as this is my first one (I’ve come a long way in just a years time, eh?), so I’ll leave that to the seasoned vets. Scored this bottle a few days after it’s release for $119 in Vienna, VA. H/t to @Telex for pointing me in the right direction. 4.5/5 Start hunting, folks.

While I hesitate to review this too early seeing as I just opened it, but I’ve had a few drams so here's what I can say: Compared to the 10 or Quarter Cask, this is more complex: bourbon notes shine on the nose and palate, it’s woodier (oak tanins) has more viscosity and a slight sherry sweetness and menthol/minty/ashy/dark choclate finish (which really comes out with a few drops of water). The 10 and QC, which I adore, are "peatier" but this is no slouch, just different and does not have that citrus-like sweet snap of the 10. All in all, I 'm enjoying the journey and would recommend once at $60 or under. 3.75/5

The drop from 43% to 40% abv should have been all the warning I needed. Wow, what a disappointing dram! Incredibly light on the palate (like fruit punch) with little left to taste on the watery, slightly cinnamon-heavy finish. The nose is like a cherry starburst candy, if you’re into that sort of thing. The full flavor and richer spice notes you’d expect from a 16 year old sherry-matured malt are just painfully muted throughout this stuff. If I wanted a glass of rose I would have poured a glass of rose. Im going to let it oxidize for a month or two, but right now give me a Glendronach 12 or, hell, even the Dalmore 12 over this bottle any day. And the $70 price point? Hard pass. 2/5

It seems criminal this juice is sub $25 in most places. A full-flavored, heavy on spice (rye dominate),classic brown sugar/vanilla/caramel and dark fruit bourbon with a slight but complimentary alcohol burn, and an even better value! This is fast becoming my daily sip. Almost too good to mix (grab the bonded expression for that). You’d be hard-pressed to find another bargain bourbon that delivers like this one. Don’t ever change, notorious OGD 114! 3.5/5

An ideal mixer given its higher proof and high rye mashbill, but can easily fill in as a sipper if needed. Solid stuff for a cheap price. 3/5