jdriip
Ardbeg Kelpie
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
November 30, 2020 (edited April 25, 2026)
Distiller Review No. 400
Back in February of this year I stopped into a local liquor store on the way home from work. Like most of the local shops everything is overpriced. I check out the clearance aisle and what do I see? Two bottle of the Kelpie with no price listed. On a whim I decide to ask what the price is, fully expecting a huge markup. The clerk can’t find it in the system, so he calls the owner, $69.99 says the owner. I can hardly contain my excitement as I say, “Well, I’ll take both bottles”.
I’ve been saving this bottle for a special occasion. I guess watching my Seahawks on MNF and review no. 400 will have to do.
Not exactly what I have come to expect from an Ardbeg.
Vanilla, ocean breeze, salty earth, and muted peat on the nose.
The palate is sweet and oily with vanilla, umami, pepper and chai tea.
The finish is long and I really like the interplay of the peppery notes with the sweet chai tea notes.
Worth the wait? Definite yes. Not my favorite Ardbeg, but very good.
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@robertmaxrees not directly, side by side. But the Oogie is one of my all time favs and I gave it a full 5 stars whereas 4.25 for this one.
Legitimately jealous that you found this, let alone at that price point! Have you compared this against Oogie at all?
@Scott_E @jonwilkinson7309 thanks guys!
Nice find. Congratulations on 400!
What a score! Congrats on 400!
@Ctrexman thanks man!
Congrats of course on 400 and wow that is a great score its like a 2 for 1
@ContemplativeFox @CKarmios @Soba45 @cascode @DigitalArc Thanks guys!
Congratulations on 400 and a screaming deal on Kelpie!
Score! At that price it’s almost half of what a normal committee release costs!
For $70, you can’t go wrong.
Congrats on 400. A good whisky to celebrate and a treasure story to go with it. Malt moments!
Very nice treasure finding. And somehow the Seahawk could be the neighbor of the Kelpie too. Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa‘ dentro.
Nice, great score! I loved the Kelpie, the black/Caspian sea oak really got me. Congrats on 400!
Congratulations on 400 reviews - here's to the next 400! Slainte mhath.
@jdriip Librarian of whiskey! Salutations and felicity on the 400th review!