Richard-ModernDrinking
Ardbeg Lord of the Isles
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
March 12, 2020 (edited October 12, 2021)
This unicorn was the highlight of an epic Ardbeg tasting in New York this week that included old rarities such as Blasda, Alligator and a distillery-only Perpetuum Committee Edition as well as the just-released Blaack and a 26-year-old cask bottled by Cadenhead. The 2004 edition emerged after 25 years in a sherry cask with a complexity that was hard to fully unpack in the setting, but nevertheless showcased a fascinating range of flavors. The nose is a rich, creamy peat with a hint of menthol. It starts off light in the mouth and then bursts with fruity flavors such as tangerines and pineapple and something akin to cheddar cheese. Tinned fruit syrup makes an appearance before the finish switches to a long tail of cream cheese and a rolling thunderstorm of smoke. This is undoubtably a whisky that would reward quiet contemplation and no doubt reveal many more sides over the course of a bottle. Lord of the Isles is truly one bottle to rule them all.
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@LeeEvolved It’s just pointless. The problem is less the lack of peat than the 40% ABV.
Very nice. Glad I have a bottle of the Lord stashed away. I also have a bottle of Blasda- I thought it was supposed to be an experimental, unpeated Ardbeg? That would explain the lightness of it, but does that explain away the overall poor quality? I suppose not.
@jonwilkinson7309 It was a Drammers Club event. If you want an introduction, contact me!
Also, where was the tasting? it sounds like an exceptional event.
Ànxiously awaiting the remaining reviews, particularly the Blaaack. I've generally liked the annual releases, even if the reviews are uneven.
@Richard-ModernDrinking Yeah, I didn’t read many good reviews of the Blasda. Seemed perplexing to have an Ardbeg getting subpar reviews.
@PBMichiganWolverine Probably the only bad Ardbeg I’ve ever had. I’ll post a review of that and the others I tried this weekend.
@Soba45 neither have i. I just did a quick lookup. Apparently one of their lighter ones. @Richard-ModernDrinking what did you think if Blasda ?
Wow that's an impressive line up. I haven't even heard of the blasta.
@PBMichiganWolverine I’ll have to have a think about best Ardbeg ever, but must be up there. I’ve got further reviews to post from the night, including for a young SMWS bottle that I’d had previously. That is unquestionably one of the best.
@Richard-ModernDrinking I’m jealous...the eve, I was home celebrating my kid’s bday. While you were having Lord of the Isles, I was having strawberry ice cream cake. Was this the best Ardbeg, and /or top 3 whiskeys you’ve had?