Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg!

Very good. Has lots of bananas, toasted marshmallows, cinnamon, pears, green apples, and smoke. Nose: Bananas, Pears, Seaweed, Green Apples, Aniseed, Cinnamon, Cloves, Bubble Gum, Grilled Pineapples, Toasted Marshmallows Palate: Smoke, Melons, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Toasted Marshmallows, Apricots, Brown Sugar, Walnuts, Honey Finish: Cinnamon, Green Apples, Pears, Vanilla, Bananas, Coal, Tar, Anise, Strawberries

Speical at Ardbrg distillery. Decent nose, Nice punch of speiciness and peat on the pallatte, strong finish

It’s fine

I think I’ve finally arrived at the post hype stage of my ardbeg relationship. I’ve been so disappointed with pretty much every special release since blaaack, that my default stance is to expect to be disappointed. So when I finally got around to pouring the half bottle I shared with a mate (with a full one locked up for enjoying later) I was prepared to be underwhelmed. The nose is very intriguing. Vanilla, sweet candy and peppermint spice with swirls of wood smoke. Im surprised how sweet it is on arrival. Wood smoke and mild peat kick in, but don’t overwhelm. The spices from the rye really round this dram into form. It’s very good. Might be one of my favorite special releases in recent years. Surely ahead of scorch, ardcore, hypernova. It’s a solid sendoff for Mickey.

L’explosion cendrée typique à Ardbeg surprend quelque peu puisqu’un nez de verdure épicée et fumée la précède. On pense même à un soupçon de mezcal au début, puis la bouche nous amène à la signature de la maison. Avec un peu de temps et d’eau, un pain frais apparaît au nez, avec un peu de fenouil anisé, puis la fumée devient de plus en plus enveloppante. Pas mal bon, même délicieux, mais quand même pas assez mémorable comparé à d’autres whiskies d’Ardbeg.