The nose starts with lemon lime soda, black pepper and burnt rubber then dark chocolate covered espresso beans, vanilla extract and ocean brine followed by sour apple, mango and plantain chips that transitions to candied ginger and gauze bandages with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a thin mouthfeel starting with lemon lime soda, black pepper and burnt rubber before a mild spice that slowly fades to a spicy dark chocolate mocha, vanilla extract and ocean brine followed by charred pineapple, dehydrated mango and plantain chips that transitions to powdered ginger and gauze bandages with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with black pepper, espresso grounds, mango, sour apple, ocean brine and light ashy oak. Ardbeg labeled this Ardcore but for me this really comes off better labeled Ardbore as it's an enjoyable dram that balances notes of sour citrus, tropical fruits, earthy spices, ocean brine and mild peat but it's unfortunately rather mellow with thin flavors and suffers from a youthful astringency that finishes rather bitter with light citrus and ash. If this is what biting into a spiky ball tastes like then it's not an experience that I'm particularly fond of and at the price of $120 per bottle, I'd much rather buy a Wee Beastie that a side by side with Ardcore revealed that Wee Beastie is far better balanced along with richer and bolder flavors for less than half the price of Ardcore.