Sequestered brine, seaweed, and faint tar notes join ginger cookies, sardines, and fresh lemon zest in a distinctly Ardbeg nose. The ocean is more evident here than in other releases: kippers, salmon, saltines, and a bit of kale are in the palate, although not without honeycomb, faint vanilla, and grassy herbs. The finish comes in with a big campfire smoke, white pepper, and a whiff of mocha. The finish is medium, without the viscous resiny character of other Ardbegs. Semisweet and a step down from the peat punch most Ardbeg enthusiasts would expect (although still a peat lover's dram), it's definitely a great sipper. However, it also represents Ardbeg playing it safe. Might it have had at least one muscle to flex?