Ardbeg

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.

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.