This NAS whisky from Ardbeg was released in honor of this year’s Feis Isle festival in Islay, Scotland. It’s named after a mythical, shape-shifting water beast that circles the island and terrorizes the locals. The whisky was released in two variations: the regular release and a special committee version that is cask strength. I had the good fortune to be able to try both of these side-by-side thanks to a friend in NJ and as an extra in our distillery trade group. This review is for the regular release that comes in at a robust 46% ABV. As with most Ardbeg’s, it has no color added and is NCF’d. It is primarily made from a special collection of virgin oak casks from a region off the coast of the Black Sea and another undisclosed batch of Ardbeg stock. It’s a beautiful, glimmering yellow gold and creates some watery, slow forming legs when you spin it. All the typical Ardbeg brine, creosote and campfire notes are initially present, as well. The nose opens smoky with a nice balance of sweet, Gala apples and a hint of lemon zest. Slightly sub-tropical fruits are here, too. Brine and seaweed add some bite. The opening notes on the tongue reveal earthy and salty peat, more traditional smoke and some intense, bittersweet chocolate. It’s very inviting. The finish is long and drying with the peppery heat from the oak. An additional bit of salinity and seaweed remains behind here, too. Great stuff. Overall, it’s another amazing NAS dram from Ardbeg. It lacks the super complexity of Oog-a-dal and the CorryV, but damn I’d love to turn this one into a staple in my home. The price is a bit higher than the core stuff, mostly due to the whole Feis Isle money grab...errr festival special release. It is worth the extra dough. It’s another magical dram from Ardbeg. Seek it out and enjoy everything it has to offer. You won’t be disappointed. 4.75 stars. Cheers, my friends.