Ardbeg Corryvreckan

This is a fun one….. Nose. At first I get peat and campfire on the beach, but mellowed compared to the Ardbeg 10. After some time in the glass it turns to black pepper bacon and after a bit more time it turns to roasted peanuts. Palate. Nice oily mouthfeel with a lot going on. Peat of course and the classic Ardbeg campfire on the beach but then there is lemon/lime citrus, vanilla, bacon, black pepper and a bunch of nuanced flavors that I can’t place because I’m on my second pour and this is 57.1%. Finish. Quite long and nice with everything that was in the palate. Thoughts. There is an ongoing debate on the best Ardbeg being the Uigeadail or the Corryvreckan. I am a lover of the peat and sherry combination but I think the Uigeadail has been outdone by several other offerings like Kilchoman Loch Gorm and Laphroaig Lore and Springbank 15 or even the much more mellow Lagavulin 16. The Corryvreckan however….the only thing close is the Octomore x.1 which is typically younger and less complex. The Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength is wonderful but has a much different character than the meaty, nutty character of the Corryvreckan.

BLIND TASTING Nose: iodine, sherry/cherry, laphroaig? Taste: how you’d imagine based on nose, rich and full bodied, peaty with medicinal /iodine notes but in a warming and full way.