Ardbeg Uigeadail

Ah, the Ardbeg Uigeadail. Is there a harder name to pronounce in the world of whiskey? The blurb on the bottle provides a pronunciation key, and I'm still not sure I'm saying it correctly. As for spelling it, well, that's what the copy and past function is for. Wanna mess with some elementary schoolers, put this one in their spelling bee. For its flavor profile, the bottle states, Treacle, Bacon, Bonfires, on the label. Seems pretty accurate, though I've never tasted treacle to my knowledge. A syrup made of refined sugar I'm seeing, tarry, like molasses. So I have the idea. I ordered a bottle of this during COVID, popped it open back when my dad, my brother-in-law and I were watching Eagles games by moving the TV out to my driveway and sitting six feet apart, when Carson Wentz was still the quarterback and we were still having trouble admitting that he was never coming back from the injured ACL he got that season he brought our team to the Super Bowl, back when Uigeadail was about $10 cheaper (we're only talking 3 years ago, but might as well be a lifetime the way prices are skyrocketing). Anyway, I cracked the bottle for the Baltimore game and it helped take the sting off the fact the Eagles lost. It was my first high-proof Islay, and it was everything I dreamed, all those flavors amped up to 11. When the price went up, I wasn't sure I'd buy another. Seemed kind of hefty for an NAS, even if it was cask strength, even if it was an Islay, but it was my favorite of the Ardbeg core range, so here we are a few years later, and I buy a second bottle. Of course, I've found an Ardbeg I like more in the BizarreBQ, but that's limited edition, and though I purchased two of those before they went out of stock, I'm probably not getting access to any more, so those are treasures in my collection, bottles to break out when the asteroid is heading to earth. Or, you know, maybe I'll open something better. Splurge. Buy that Laphroaig 25 I've had my eye on that's way out of my price range. The nose here has a touch of sweetness underlying the smoke, is that what they mean by treacle? Is that what treacle tastes like? Sorry, smells like. The smoke is a dry smoke, great aroma. There is the slight hint on the back end of band-aid. Maybe a hint of dark chocolate. The palate adds a meatiness to the smoke. I suppose you could call it bacon, but it could be a number of cured meats because it has that trace of salinity. The finish brings back the hint of sweetness that again, I can't define. The reviewer here notes that it's a bit of sherried scotch in the mix, which could very well be the case. Overall, it's got a nice rich mouthfeel and was worth the asking price three years ago. Now I'm not sure I can justify paying that despite how much I like it. I'd rather buy a Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength or Talisker's Distillers Edition, which are both in the same ballpark.

Overall a very enjoyable dram but I was slightly disappointed considering the price. It strongly reminds me of the An Oa expression on first opening. For the cost they could have increased the proportion of older sherried whisky in the mix. Nice proof point but honestly I prefer the standard TEN when taking value into consideration. That said, Uigeadail still beats Lagavulin 16 hands down! NOTE: Now that I’ve gotten the neck pour out of the way it’s finally starting to open up and the dark fruit sherry notes are beginning to shine through.