The_Rev
Reviewed
September 24, 2016 (edited August 6, 2020)
This is my favorite Ardbeg. If the 10 year gets a bit overly charred at the finish, and if the Corryvreckan is just a bit too ponderously heavy and dark, then this nails the perfect territory in the middle. The bourbon cask character is present and beautiful - instead of heavy dark fruits, there's a bright, sprightly vanilla and lemon custard quality on the nose and mid-palate. Pair with that the smoke, salt, oily smoked fish, and sea breeze that's in the soul of the Ardbeg malt and you have one of the finest single malts out there, and for such a low price for the quality.