“The loch from which all Ardbeg water flows” Uigedail is an enigmatic liquid. Since I first started appreciating whisky Uigedail, or Oogie as its affectionately known, has been seemingly the most loved and well spoken of whiskies I have come across. Top of peoples stand out offerings from Islay this whisky has presented to me as an exceptional value for money heavyweight. Indeed, it appears that this is the liquid from which Ardbegs reputation flows in no small part. N: A complex entry. Brown sugar, espresso, cedar wood and delightfully aromatic spicy tar; these are the initial big hitters. Bitterness from a tangy marmalade sits with some sweeter dried fruits melds with a slightly salty-menthol/peppermint, I think yet again I find lemon rind but very waxy (seemingly lemon is an Ardbeg thing). Despite what might seem very bright and zingy this nose is calm, restrained, slightly dry, and beautifully clean. This is strength of character without needing to beat you into submission. P: The nose is playing a bit of a ruse… the restrained poise of the nose ever so slightly holds on the first touch but then the smoke comes. Thick, heavy, and dark here is a fire stoked with black tea and hot tar. That might sound like a border line assault, maybe. Give it a moment and sweetness arrives as black forest cake and darkest honey, a lift of waxy lemon, sharp almost bitter aniseed and a richly present hot ginger. As I get more comfortable with this absolute beast it reveals the deftest touch of an oyster kilpatrick (the interplay of smoke and maritime influence), and then some orange oil and sticky date. F: Longer than should be legal. Heavy smoke laden with phenolic oomph, this is darkness incarnate the darkest bbq-caramel reduction may come close to this, and then out of nowhere a final parting death throe of peppermint. A drop of water is nothing to write home about. Some of the intensity lifts off, I’m not sure thats how it was intended and it does seem slightly diminished for it. Wow. That was a sensory overload. Nose, poise. Palate, power. Finish, a constant reminder. This is not whisky for amateurs, and to be honest, I don’t think its something for the every day drinker either, it’s a tour de force. This is undeniably excellent stuff and I would be pleased to have a bottle on my shelf. But, my word Ardbeg you have created a monster that is almost too overwhelmingly powerful and thats my only real criticism. Still, probably the best of a very, very good run that maybe just beats out Corryvreckan. Distiller whisky taste #228 [Pictured here with another, not so wee, beastie. For such a monster dram I had to pull out a monster beastie. This is a trilobite called Cambropallas telesto and dates back to ~513-501 million years ago in southern Morocco. These trilobites were fast moving detritivores and there is little else to say other than to be impressed by the sheer size of these ancient invertebrates] Ardbeg running scores: Ardbeg 10: 4.25/5 Wee Beastie: 3/5 Corryvreckan: 4.5/5 An oa: 4/5 Hypernova 2022: 4.25/5 Uigeadail: 4.5/5