Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990

A vintage Ardbeg is as rare as finding an 18yo old one. The task gets even more difficult when we are talking about a specific limited expression bottled 15 years ago. This is the Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist, a very limited expression, is called "The Beist", and the actual translation for that fancy gaelic name is "The Shelter of The Beast". Bottled at 46%abv, this is a 1990 vintage, Bottled in 2008. On the nose it is incredible. Tropical aroma, a pair of socks, pineapple, cigarrette ashtray, milk chocolate. After a first sip it became even more tropical with grated coconut notes. On the palate it is perfect. White chocolate with red chilli. It is a punch in the face of those two notes. Salty and sweet, pineapple. Spectacular. Aftertaste is deliciously smoky. Aromatic peat, burnt hay. Fantastic. Sugary and smokey. Overall, this is one of the most elegant, tropical, easy drinkable, yet peaty dram. This is the definition of a "rounded whisky". I believe this super expensive single malt (goes for around $700 nowadays), will be a dram that i will remember for a long time. The Beast is actually tamed to be enjoyed fully. My score for it is 97 over 100.

So conflicted. Sherry...peat...sherry...peat...more?

One of my favorite Ardbegs. On that edge of in your face peat and starting to get more subtle in the finish. This is the L8 (2008 edition)

nose is a but salty with candy sweetness, smooth peat and smoke, citrus palate is sweet peat with stronger alcohol sensation, some vanilla, oily finish is long and the sweetness and smoke retains overall a really nice Ardbeg that both has the characteristics of the distillery but has a unique sweet and oily profile