Jose-Massu-Espinel
Ardbeg Kildalton 2014
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
August 6, 2022 (edited January 4, 2024)
5 years ago, i started my journey in whisky. It has been a super fun and lovely experience, and now it has reached a beautiful milestone. This my friends, is my whisky review No. 1000.
After 1000 whiskies i can honestly say i have tasted enough from most scottish distilleries, and, in a very subjective way, i can pick my favorites. My top three would be Glendronach, Talisker and Lagavulin. The rest of the top ten would be, in no specific order, Ardbeg, Arran, Dalmore, Edradour, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Highland Park.
It is awesome to share ny reviews with you, and the actual 1000 whisky was an Ardbeg. Tasted at the distillery warehore, a 2014 special expression, the famous "Kildalton".
This one was originally intended only for distillery visitors, and it honours the Kildalton Cross on the Isle of Islay. It is the best preserved celtic cross on Scotland, and that makes it a wonderful monolithic structure with historic importance.
Bottled at 46%abv, this special edition has been bottled in bourbon and sherry casks.
On the nose, it starts with green apples and the Ardbeg peat, but tamed. Minty, herbal, smokey. It takes time to fully open. Gooseberries. Super fruity and slightly ashy. Very perfumed; it has released a scent of hand lotion. After a first sip, it gave me a vanilla explosion in a fancy, well delivered way. Vanilla ice cream, coconut, lemongrass.
Super complex.
On the palate, it is pure perfection. Grassy, herbal. Ashy water in a good way. Not watery, but very grassy. Petrichor. The second sip gave me vanilla and herbal Tea. On the third sip it had a sugary character.
Aftertaste is peaty and super enjoyable. Ashy, a puff of smoke. I can only describe it as a herbal powder is such thing exists. Sider and metallic notes, copper.
Overall, this one is very fresh, minty and herbal in a very good way. The palate was the absolute highlight of this very rewarding dram. Having said all that, i am so happy that i have reached 1000 reviews, i can finally said that "i have drunk a little whisky". My next step of the journey is to write a book, that will contain my thoughts on this great beverage, and of course i will include all my reviews on it. My score for this single malt is 96 over 100, but it feels like one thousand! Slàinte!!
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Congrats on the first thousand. Next stop, ten thousand? Brilliant work Sir.
1000. Wow. Not sure I will ever reach that summit. Nice pour for that milestone.
@PBMichiganWolverine thanks my friend!! i think your way is healthier, lol
@Jose-Massu-Espinel wow…congrats my friend! 1000 in 5 years, so just about 3/ week. Beats my 850 over 15 years!
@angstrom hahahaha i loved the "first 1000" comment. cheers my friend!
@cascode thanks Cascode! we are in a lovely whisky journey
@pkingmartin thank you my friend! now lets go for 2k!
Awesome! Well done on your first 1,000 reviews.
Congratulations brother, and a great whisky to mark the occasion, à votre santé!
Congrats on the huge milestone of hitting 1k reviews and I look forward to reading many more. Cheers!