Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990

If you want to taste Ardbeg's notes of smoke, salt and sweetness in isolation, this whisky will walk you through them one by one. It's a fascinating reference for the Ardbeg vocabulary, but ultimately the sweetness dominates, underscoring how well integrated the current Ardbeg range is. Still, well worth the $14 I paid for 2cl at Chami Bar in Davos.

Overall: A creamy dram, sweet, smoky, with citrusy qualities, superb whisky, a top pick of mine, one of the best bottles of scotch I have ever owned. If Corryvreckan is a rockstar, this is like a hug from grandpa (24). Color: Medium gold Nose: Lime skins and cream, vanilla, peat, malt, detergent, something herbal, salted marshmallows, a drop of water brings out the fruity qualities (24) Body: Medium to full, oily Taste: Tangy peat, soft heat, limes, little peek of vanilla in there, fluffy puffs of smoke and soot, complex (24) Finish: Medium to long, soft vanilla, smoke resurging (23) Score: 95