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	Ardbeg
			Sample
O.B.	Ten	18
	Seventeen	17 3/4
	Airigh nam Beist	17 1/2
	Almost There	18
	Blasda		17
	Corryvreckan	19
	Renaissance
	Still Young	18 1/2
	Uigeadail	18 2/3
	Very Young 2004	17 2/3
	1977	19 1/2
	Committee Reserve	18 5/6
	Supernova	19
	Lord of the Isles	19
Adelphi	Adelphi 1998 10 y.o
Bresser&Timmer / The Nectar	Daily Dram: Still very young Islay Single Malt	18
Douglas Laing	Old Malt Cask, 1993	18 2/3
Gordon & MacPhail	Gordon & MacPhail, 1996	18
Jack Wieber	The Cross Hill 1993-2007
M&H	1990 Roberto Alonzi
The Whisky Exchange	Elements of Islay, AR1	19

 

Ardbeg 10 years
Age	10 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Particularity	Non chill filtered
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 All the iodised delicacy of the Isle of Islay is present in this marvelous whisky. To preserve the fragrances, Ardbeg decided not to chill filter this version. What a good idea... The rich fragrances, the smoke and peat smelt are present in this bottle which is an absolute must in each whisky collection. The finish is too short according to me. The very light colour could surprise at first side, but should not be an obstacle, even for those used to drink whisky matured in sherry casks, and where some caramel was added...

At the second tasting, the nose was strongly marked by the smoke, but it remained remarkably fine and subtle. The smoke is also very present in the palate, on a malt background. The whole is very pleasant, even if the finish is too short. It is however very warm and pleasant.

The nose, clearly marked by smoke but also by some sea breeze memories announces a very fine and complex whisky. In the mouth, first a peaty taste, rather dry. An earth taste with nice martime hints and a nice presence. The finish is rather short, ans the peaty hints mix with smoke and salt.

Comment by Henrik Johansson

Apperance: Sunlight.
Looks just as young as it is. N
ose: Straight nose has lots of tar and smoke. A slight acetone scent and smoked sausage. A bit prickly. The tar and smoke remains in the diluted dram while the overall feel is warmer and saltier. Soy sauce, fresh ocean breeze, air cleaner, new rubber and old sweat.
Body: Quite light, smalish. Palate: Interesting. Quite salty and dry. Pretty complex palate at first but seems to be fading. Birch-like and edgy. Feels chemical but quite nice.
Dusty finish.
85/100

Comment by Johannes Sauer

C.: Bright golden, white wine
N.: Peatreek, balanced with softer herbal and floral notes. A soft and not disturbing whiff of chlorine, swimming pool. Ashtray. For me there's no trace of any kind of wooden cask to be found in the nose.
T.: Same like the nose, but the tart aromes are here balanced with a strong taste of cane sugar. Medical, also peaty and sweet but there is nothing in between to give the palate more complexity.
C.: Medium short without any surprises
Conc.: A great companion for some meal, grilled beef, sea food. Strong, but not demanding. Beats lots of red wines. But, like most red wines, not a drink to stick with the whole evening through.

 

Ardbeg 17 years
Age	17 years
Alcohol percentage	40%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 Although an excellent typical whisky from Islay, this version satisfies me less than the younger version , 10 years old. The difference is probably that the younger version is not chill filtered, and that all the fragrances are less present in this older version.

At the second tasting, the nose reveals discreetly some sweet (honey?) but rather complex peat hints, does not really announce the taste which is less typical, and a little bit deceiving. Sweetness is still there, but where is the complex character of a great malt? The finish is rather short.

The nose shows a very nice balance between discrete but well present peat and smoother malty notes. In the mouth, still this smoothness and a kind of lack of character, probably due to the percentage of alcohol, even if it is obvious that this whisky is an example of distinction and that the tongue walks through nice sensations. The finish is rather long, with some iodine hints.

Nice floral fragrances soon followed by fruity scents characterise this very pleasant nose. A light veil of smoke and discrete hints of yeast follow soon.
The palate is marked by pleasant slightly acid tastes mixing with a nice bitterness. Contrast and balance.
The finish is lingering prolongs perfectly the mouth.

 

 

Ardbeg Committee Reserve
Age	Non age Statement
Alcohol percentage	55,3%
Particularity	Cask Strength
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 The discrete hints of smoke and peat do not really announce all the intense pleasure there is to taste this exceptional malt. A great richness in very subtle tastes, never very far from the characteristic peaty smoke taste of this great Islay distillery. The choice of the casks to produce this special release reserved to Ardbeg Committee members is very wise. A long finish, very nuanced prolongs the great pleasure from tasting this exceptional bottling.

A second tasting has confirmed the first one. A remarkable nose, slightly medicinal with sea hints followed by an explosion of fragrances in the typical touches of Islay: peat, sea and smoke. A real jewel with a very long finish.

At the third tasting, the nose was very complex, peated and smoky, but also rather sweet, strong and fresh. A wonderful combination of sensations. This nice start will be followed by an even greater complexity in the palate. Peat and smoke are still present, but with fresher hints, nearly acid and fruity ones. A very long finish, salted and marine, completes the whole and makes this bottle an unforgettable one, with some smoked fish touches, and memories of great ocean waves.

The nose is rather marked by fruits on a background of smoke and some slightly acid citrus notes, without any aggressivity. Tangerine touches and a slight smell of walnut announce a complex whisky. In the mouth, a mix of sweetness, bitterness and acidity, perfectly balanced, offer unusual complexity. A mix of salted nuts, liquorice, malt and light smoke, with a discrete touch of chocolate. No hinder from the relatively high percentage of alcohol. The finish is lingering, salty, iodinized and maritime.

The first nosing reveals nice smoky hints, and behind this smoke, some nice fruity notes (citrus) and remarkable peaty hints. A smell of wet earth as well. The whole is very rich in flavours and really complex.
In the palate, peat and citrus fruits seem to dominate, and some fine woody touches are present too. A great balance between citrus acidity and peat dryness, which is nearly magic. A great pleasure.
The finish is lingering, salty, very pleasant. A really great Ardbeg.

A light hay smell developing slowly on smooth fruitier hints, Nice freshness with rather pleasant acid notes. A touch of smoke and even peat on quite a discrete remote background. Marshmallow too.
The first mouth is quite acid before developing on peaty notes, but the citrus aspect dominates quite soon.
The finish is quite long and pleasant. Peat (an earthy dry peat) dominates finally.
After rereading the older tasting notes, it seems the quality of this bottle has decreased with the time (it has been open for a very long time) and that peaty aspects have nearly disappeared from both the nose and the mouth.

 

 

Ardbeg Uigeadail
Age	Non age Statement
Alcohol percentage	54,2%
Particularity	Cask Strength
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

A wonderful smoke and peat smell, very complex but with a kind of mystery announces a great malt. A very great malt even, a real Ardbeg. The palate is extremely complex. It is one of the most beautiful Islay whiskies I ever tasted. A mix of traditional Ardbeg taste (smoke and peat) with something mysterious and very pleasant. Add a very long and very pleasant finish, recalling all the fragrances detected by nose and mouth, and you'll have one of the best whiskies on earth...

Peat, iodine and smoke, with something more, something sweet and strong at the time, something animal, cocoa are characteristics of a very intense nose. In the palate, some slightly acid hints, on a background of liquorice, peat and smoke. What a complex whisky! What a fragrances fireworks. A lingering and warm finish, with some acidity at the begriming, lemon, and clear hints of smoke. What a whisky!
What an Ardbeg !

The nose is clearly marked by peat smoke and some citrus fruit hints on the background. A touch a spices overall. In the mouth, a nice mix of peat, malt and citrus fruit, with a touch of bitterness giving a special character to the whole. A rather complex and varied palate. A pleasant finish, lingering and warm, which prolongs the happiness this whisky gives.
.

 Comment by Henrik Johansson

Date of tasting: 2/12 2007
Appearance: Amber-like old gold. Clear copper-like glints
Nose: Peaty bonfires, grilled vegetables and damp leather, liquorice hints, some sulphuric whiffs and solvent elements (nail varnish remover, paint and acid drops) in the background, quite a prickle at cask strength. The reduced nose lends ocean-like fumes along with a new found fruitiness -mainly cooked fruits -stewed apples perhaps. Still quite solvent. Peppery, herbal and cut paper hints also emerge.
Body: Very firm, medium to heavy
Palate: Long and intense. Nice grilled flavours, sweet and full bodied. Very smooth feel and nice development with some hot, prickly burnt sticks taste in the finish along with just a hint of sherried sweetness. Very well balanced and pleasant for the Islay lover
92/100

Comment by Johannes Sauer

Colour: Golden bronze, a little reddish glints, copper (sherry or colouring? Let's say the first), beautiful oily tears.
Nose: One of the most extremely multilayered noses I ever experienced: A soft chemical note (photo developer), suede, english mustard, chinese sweet and sour soup, woodberries, dried cherries, and in the very back there, yes, behind that peat, there seems a very soft sherry note to be lingering around.
Taste: Very earthy, a deep bite in the ground of a scottish highland moore, together with very fine herbal notes, then there is strong licorice (salmiak), later instant coffee powder perhaps mixed with black pepper, bavarian radish, beetroots, horseradish, grapefruit and chillies. With water added something from the sea shows: Smoked salmon, salt and seaweed but also a very delicate caramel arome.
Finish: Very long and very herbal, the bitter earthy note lingers for a long while.
Conc.: It’s hard to believe, but this cocktail of harsh contrasts works and leaves a very balanced picture. A very grand and satisfying whisky, but this is for sure not my favorite every-day dram and there has not been many occasions to pour from this bottle which is in my collection for quite a few years.
Tasting date: 2009-07-31

Ardbeg Very Young 2004
Age	6 years
Alcohol percentage	58,3%
Particularity	Cask Strength Non chill filtered
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

A very peaty nose, probably too peaty. A real Ardbeg, sometimes missing nuances and subtlety. The palate deals with a serious whisky. Not necessarily with a subtle one. The young age has probably a great influence on this impression. The time will certainly contribute to enhance the complexity of this malt, promising, not yet ripe however. The finish is rather pleasant, long, slightly acid, and the whole makes it a good whisky. The question is however: why market such a young whisky? The fact is unusual enough to be mentioned.

The nose is clearly dominated by peat and marine hints are present too. This whisky is obviously immature. In the mouth, the same "youth" impression. A clear lack at complexity, but this whisky will becomea very nice one when it reaches it maturity. The finish is rather long, quite sugared and marked by oily peat and smoke.

The nose is clearly marked by a nice oily peat. Beautiful hints of smoke hiding discrete fruity notes and some touches of hay. In the palate, a mix of peat and citrus fruit with refined pleasant woody notes. Beer yeast notes to complete the scene. Nice general impression. The finish is rather long and chocolate hints share the attention with smoke and peat.

 

Ardbeg Still Young 2006
Age	8 years
Alcohol percentage	56,2%
Particularity	Cask Strength Non chill filtered
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

The nose is gently marked by a mix of peat and smoke, letting some nice floral notes and clear vanilla hints appear. In the palate, a delicious sweet-bitter mix, with successively peated and slightly woody hints, and some finely acid touches. The finish is very pleasant, lingering and warm, with some memories of smoke and a kind of bitterness.

Nice peat behind a veil of barbecue smoke characterises the first nose. Some discrete fruity notes appear after a while, together with a kind of medicinal smell which remains fortunately on the background.
In the mouth, peat and alcohol are fighting for the first impression, but the taste develops rather quickly on nice bitter then slightly acid touches at the end.
The finish is on peat too and a chocolate impression comes and crowns the whole. The finish is rather smooth even if peat still dominates.

Ardbeg Almost There 9 years
Age	9 years
Alcohol percentage	54.4%
Particularity	Single cask Non chill filtered
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

The nose is clearly marked by fine peat and the young character of this whisky is obvious. Discrete hints of citrus fruit give it a kind of freshness. In the palate, citrus notes are pleasantly mixed with the peat, but it has a lack at complexity, despite its undisputable qualities. Nice finish, fresh and lingering, in the exact line of the mouth. Some more complexity would have been appreciated however.

Ardbeg Airigh nam beist 1990- 2006
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	56,246
Particularity	Cask Strength
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

A very nice peated nose. Oily peat and clear wax notes. In the palate, a very pleasant mix of peat and citrus in a beautiful and complex balance. A hint of smoke on the background. Then the presence of alcohol becomes obvious, and finally some fine woody hints join in the dance. Strange, but is seems that the tastes appear sequentially in this whisky. Quite a long finish, with peat and smoke hints making room after a while to the acid notes which already followed peat in the palate.

Nice nose, allying malt and liquorice hints with some floral notes after a less interesting first nose where some yeast notes seemed to dominate the whole.
The mouth is not really special, and shows a lack at complexity and body, even if it remains quite pleasant.
The finish is rather contrasting with the mouth with its toasted bread notes and its relative length.This are amazing notes for an Ardbeg... Probably because the bottle is opened for several years. But this bottle needs a confirmation tasting.

Ardbeg 1977
Age	no age statement
Alcohol percentage	46%
Particularity	Non chill filtered
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

The nose is subtly powerful, mixing iodine, peat and smoke on a remote citrus fruit background, and revealing lots of other fragrances, each of them being delicately maritime. A real firework in the palate. A firework of aromas, even close to earth as to sea, with some slightly acid hints (citrus fruit), but gently hidden by a powerful chocolate fragrance mixed with some nutty aromas. A very light woody impression, but so discrete that is really becomes a part of the whole, without dominating, just like any other fragrance in the marvelous whisky. A very lingering pleasant finish, summarizing perfectly all the pleasures this very nice bottle gave during nosing and tasting..

An amazing both fresh and peaty nose. Nice and discrete hints of citrus and exotic fruits behind a veil of smoke. Just a very nice balance, no overwhelming domination by any of the components. Balance and lightness characterise the best this promising nose. It develops constantly, without losing any of its initial qualities.
In the palate, peat is the first to appear, first smooth but getting stronger and stronger, giving a sensation of dryness in the mouth, developing soon on fruity notes with a nice acidity which comes over the initial peaty notes.
The finish is very interesting too, with still this perfect balance between peat and fruit. It is exceptionally long, both warm and fresh.
This is a bottle made from nuances. It is exceptionally refined.

 

Ardbeg Lord of the Isles
Age	25 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Particularity	Non chill filtered
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

An unusual delicate nose, maritime, salty with a touch of peat on the background, developing delicate hints of malted barley and smells close to marshmallow. No aggressiveness at all. A nice complex palate, sugared and salted at the time, with discrete hints of citrus fruit on a background of peat and seaweed, exhaling some woody hints, the whole being superbly balanced. A lingering finish, marked by some remote hints of dry peat, memories of citrus and woody touches (or walnut ones). A remarkable bottle, which however contrasts with many other products of the same distillery. Such a delicacy and sweetness. No smoky and heavily peaty attacks like other bottlings.

The nose is rather discrete for the few first minutes, but when it reveals all its potential, it's very great, very complex, very smooth and very delicate. No heavy peat like in other bottlings fo this distillery. Just a delicacy. Chocolate, or even more likely, cocoa, a touch fo citrus fruit. A discrete peat hint, a remarkable balance. In the palate, the same impressions as at nosing, with a nice development then on peat then on smoke, with a light touch of citrus sometimes. The lingering finish is very pleasant, and here again peat and smoke appear randomly.

A nicely balanced peaty nose with clear marine notes, sea spray and salt. Discrete fruity notes appear after a while and then develop on marzipan, nougat and even chocolate.
In the palate, the same nicely balanced peaty impression. But not trace of fruits nor marzipan. A nice example of peat which is sufficient in itself.
The finish is lingering and pleasant and here too the discrete fruity notes reappear behind a nice peat. Nice because discrete.

 

Ardbeg Corryvreckan (Commitee Reserve)
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	57,1%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

The very first nose is deliciously complex with its fruity and very fresh notes (green apple) and its discrete hints of cut grass ant its complex and very pleasant touches of spices behind this veil of smoke and a discrete touch of peat.
The first impression in the palate is an explosion of fragrances, from peat to citrus through diverse fruity variations. Pepper and spices remain very present. Some acidity, some bitterness, lots of pleasure. The percentage of alcohol is obvious but does not hinder at all. Amazing presence of peat, while I did not detect it at the first nosing...
The finish is extremely long and amazing. It ends on eucalyptus cough pills preceded by smoky notes. Alcohol remains obvious but not hindering.

Ardbeg Renaissance 10 years old
Age	10 years
Alcohol percentage	55,9%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

Ardbeg Supernova
Age	Non age Statement
Alcohol percentage	58,9%
Particularity	Cask Strength
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

A nice nose with first a pleasant but discrete oily peat developing quickly on fruity notes on one hand and on a clearly medicinal character on the other hand. After a few minutes, the nose reveals all its complexity.
The mouth presents a delicate balance between peat and very nice mango and other exotic fruits notes. An exceptional presence in the palate.
The finish is warm with touches of bitterness adding to the impressions described above. The finish develops clearly as the time goes. It seem never to end. It goes and comes between a light bitterness (cashew nuts) and exotic fruit with very nice peaty notes.
A very great Ardbeg.

Comment by Johannes Sauer

SuperNova edition 2010

Colour: Polished brass, bright gold.
Nose: Fresh and pungent. The first impression is for sure the one of peat, so strong it is hard to identify as such. More like wood preservative or a freshly painted garden fence in the high noon sun. But soon after the second or third sniff there’s a whole new world to discover: Citrus peel, freshly minced mint leaves, tar, salt sticks, violin raisin, spicy oil (linseed or even machine oil) and black tea. I think every sniff reveals another new impression (also like the colour: polished brass). A very mesmerizing and busy even nervous nose, every assiciation with the term “peaty” seems to show up.
Taste: Again pungent and very intense. More than 60% are laying heavy and a bit paralyzing on your tastebuds. But now it is far more like a regular peaty whisky and still very intense: Leather, smoke, black pepper and dead cigarette butts. With water (You can add much of it and it is still a very intense whisky) there is also a very delicate fruity bitterness (grapefruit) and some forest herbal notes: Earth moss, wood mushrooms, waldmeister and cranberries.
Finish: More than the average long, after a good while the cheeks feel still contracted, a feeling like chewing on black pepper seeds together with a fine herbal / fruity bitterness (Angostura) remains and remains.
Conc.: A great experience for every Islay or peat lover and a challenge for every connaisseur.
A complete new dimension of the word “peated”: Here seems every so far known connection with this term included. But (there has to be a “but”) it is not easy to “enjoy” this dram...
Tasting date: 16/07/2010
Price in Germany: 80 Euro (in this offer was a mini bottle of Ardbeg 10 included)

Ardbeg Old Malt Cask Distilled 1993, bottled january 2004 10 years
Age	10 years
Alcohol percentage	50%
Particularity	Non chill filtered Single cask
Bottler	Douglas Laing
Price/litre

The Ardbeg typical hints of smoke and peat are present from the very first nosing. But there is more... some slightly acid notes, recalling the smell of orange mixed with pudding. A very complex smell, from malted sweetness to slight acidity, through smoke and peat. A great pleasure. The palate recognises a pallet of tastes, from the smoke to citrus, sweet-sour. Great art. A wonderful finish, sweeter than the palate, completes this very nice whisky.

The nose detects smoke and peat from a distance. The nose is complex, revealing some slightly acid hints. In the palate, the same complexity, and a very pleasant smoke, just like eating an open fire... A very nice and lingering finish, where the smoke and the peat remain dominating. A very pleasant Ardbeg.

The nose is clearly marked by oily peat and nice citrus fruit hints, which gives it an nice dimension. The same peaty impression with this nicely fruity (orange, banana) taste characterizes the palate. A nice complexity is worth to be noted as well. Citrus, peat, barley, warmth and pleasure. The finish is rather long and warm, and fruity hints come back in the mouth after a while, followed by some woody touches.

 

Ardbeg Adelphi 1998 Cask#1979
Age	10
Alcohol percentage	58.8%
Bottler	Adelphi
Price/litre

Ardbeg Connoisseurs Choice 1996
Age	9 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Particularity	Non chill filtered Single cask
Cask	Bourbon
Bottler	Gordon & MacPhail
Price/litre

The nose is marked by a mix of dry peat and citrus fruit (orange), well balanced and with a kind of freshness which is rather unusual for an Ardbeg. Hints of spices as well. The palate is complex, and some liquorice hints flirt with touches of lemon, on a discrete background of peat, giving a dry and earthy character to the whole. A nice finish, quite complex and lingering, salted, and here again, this impression of dry earth.
.
A very clear nose, marked by both smoke and peat, with some fresh hints of citrus fruit and a touch of medicinal hints. The palate is nicely complex, with first some rather present peaty hints, followed by touches of dead leaves and mushrooms, with from time to time a hint of citrus giving the whole a nice fresh impression. The finish is pleasant, first on citrus fruit, and developing progressively on the nose's and mouth's smokey and peaty notes.

A sea nose with strong peated influences, pepper coffee and a nice smoke impression. Superb nose.
In the palate, hints of coffee mix pleasantly with citrus fruit notes.
Smoke and peat characterise the finish which is very long and the orange notes come back after a while to complete the whole picture.

Ardbeg Still Very Young 2000-2007 Daily Dram & The Whisky Fair
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	62.6%
Bottler	Daily Dram & Bresser&Timmer
Price/litre

Quite an "Ardbeg nose"... Nice oily peat, smoke, mice farm smells, warmth of hay mixed with cattle smells, iodine, a touch of citrus fruit hidden behind all this; the whole is nicely balanced and announces an excellent whisky.
In the palate, it does not try to dissimulate its power. Whaou. 62% of alcohol cannot be discrete in the mouth of a whisky drinker. However, if your palate is used to cask strengths, it could survive without to much irreversible damage... Nice complexity, with nutty notes (hazelnut) merged with fruity hints, impressions of coffee, moka. Adding some water is quite a good idea for this dram and also for your papilla's. Water addition reveals fully the smoke notes and the complexity in the mouth is enhanced. This whisky gets suddenly very smooth and the nutty notes develop on fine wood by slow increase of the bitterness impression.
The finish is long and the nice memory of the warm cowshed near the sea prolongs the pleasure for long minutes.

Ardbeg Elements of Islay AR1
Alcohol percentage	58.7%
Price/litre
Bottler	The Whisky Exchange

What a nice nose, with these whiffs of peat and this nice fruity aromas. Even hidden behind some rubber smells, the hints of plum and apple are present indeed.
The first contact in the palate is quite amazing. A mix of acid freshness and chocolate notes give this whisky a very pleasant complexity. Despite the high level of alcohol, a nice and smooth impression characterises the mouth.
The finish is exceptionally long and smooth, marked by the chocolate memory of peated barley.
An excellent Ardbeg.

Ardbeg The Cross Hill 1993
Age	14 years
Alcohol percentage	56,3%
Bottler	Jack Wieber
Price/litre

Ardbeg 1990 Roberto Alonzi
Alcohol percentage	54.4%
Bottler	M&H

Ardbeg Blasda
Alcohol percentage	40%
Price/litre
Bottler	Official

The nose is marked by a smooth mix of citrus notes, peat and smoke. An unusual freshness for an Ardbeg as there are even hints of cut grass.
In the palate, behind a clear watery impression, peat notes are quite present, but a clear lack at body is obvious, even if some beautiful fruity hints appear.
The finish is of average length, and peat dominates discretely some fruity hints.
Interesting bottle, but what a shame to have bottled it at 40%. This watery impression is present during the whole tasting.

Ardbeg Authentic Collection, 17 yo 1991-2008
Age	17 years
Alcohol percentage	56,3%
Bottler	Cadenhead

Comment by Johannes Sauer

Colour: Bright golden. Non coloured.
Nose: Very discreet first, but as we say in Germany: “Quiet Waters are deep” - Forest honey, dried meadow herbs, clover, dried corn flowers all that backed by very soft, almost flattering, sugar covered smoke. This nose awakes imaginations of an idyllic picture of an old dutch painter: A beautiful landscape with haystacks and trees under the autumn sun, blue sky, happy farmers on their way back home...
Taste: The 56,3% rolling in with some elbows but still soft, very drinkable at full strength and not at all hurting. The peat takes one small step foward, but dominating the held back floral and herbal notes together with soft eucalyptus. Added water opens up a new range: Caramel spread on wholemeal bread, whalenuts, almonds, cocoa powder and dried fruits, always backed by perfectly balanced peat and honey.
Finish: Fine lingering bitterroot notes, chocolate and nuts on and on.
Conc.: Wonderful balanced and complex Ardbeg, the style is not typical Islay, but more like very traditional highlander.
Tasting date: 3/06/2010
Price in Germany (2008): 89 Euro

Ardbeg Rare Auld 10/1993-07/2009
Age	15 years
Alcohol percentage	58,9%
Bottler	Duncan Taylor

Comment by Johan Brugge

Nose
Neat: The alcohol fumes almost burn off my nostrils. This is very rough. After a while the peaty and smokey notes appear but the high alcohol percentage of the spirit covers most of it.
With water:
Aaaah. That’s more like it. Now I recognize the typical Ardbeg characteristics. I’m on the beach again smelling the sea breeze. Fabulous nose now.
Palate
Neat: This is very hot!! Peat shines through along with some kind of citrus flavours. I’ve never had that before in an Ardbeg. It’s nice in a way but it definitely needs water. My tongue is on fire.
With water:
So much better. It’s still hot but there is much more balance. There is peat of course, some earthy notes, smoke. But there is also a flavour I’m not used to. I just can’t put my finger on it. Serge calls it crystallized fruit and marzipan but I’m not quite sure. Anyway, it’s definitely not your average Ardbeg. On the contrary. This is a very interesting independent bottling. It’s a bit like a wild Mustang. You need to tame it first, but after that it’s a hell of a ride.
Finish
Much more on peat now. Very nice but it absolutely needs water. Reminds me a bit of the complexity of my Longrow 1993 10yo. Salty, again some citrus but still in balance I think. There is some faint smoke on the background too.
90/100