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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.
2010