So, you say you like peat! Well, have we
got a Scotch for you. Ardbeg is,
unquestionably, one of the peatiest
malts in the world, from one of the
peatiest places in the world. If you
don’t care for these Islay beauties, you
are merely a “peat pretender”. But
there’s more to Ardbeg than just peat.
Their whiskies are full and robust, but
also possess a depth that belies any
assertions of being “one trick ponies”.
Ardbeg has three whiskies in their core
range. We tried them all, as well as
their Serendipity vatted malt, which was
an accidental combination of an ancient
Ardbeg with about 25% of a standard Glen
Moray.
So, don’t be afraid of the peat!
Instead, pick-up one of these bottles,
and enjoy a taste of the “Peaty Isle”.
10
year old: A nose that is on the
one hand peaty with light smoke, and
on the other somewhat youthful, with
hints of gauze and tar. The
medium-heavy mouthfeel gives way to
an overpowering finish of smoke and
peat, along with hints of
butterscotch. Powerful, and what
people think of when discussing
Ardbeg.
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Uigeadail:
This one has a nose that’s much
fruitier than the 10 year old
(though that’s not saying much),
with melons, oranges, fresh ivy,
fruit scones, charred oak, and of
course smoke and peat. A
medium-bodied malt, the peat really
rears its head, with an intensity
that makes me feel like I’m cutting
it myself. Uigeadail is also verrrry
smoky in the finish, with hints of
wet earth, iodine, and a
spicy/sweetness that we found
appealing.
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Airigh Nam Beist: A
beautiful, complex nose. A
juxtaposition of descriptions went
flying around the testing table with
this one: meadow freshness, mint,
seashore, smoke, fishing nets,
menthol, chocolate mints, a perfumed
sweetness. Somehow, though,
everything complemented each other.
Like most Ardbegs, “the Beastie” was
medium-bodied, but unlike most, the
finish was a little short, though
warming. The finish was nicely
balanced; still peaty, less smoky,
with baked apples and more mint.
Well done.
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Serendipity: Lighter than your
standard Ardbeg (obviously), with
light smoke on the nose to
complement the peat, mint,
tangerines, limes, and fennel
(honest!). A beautiful crisp and
clean medium-weight mouthfeel gives
way to a long, dry finish full of
mixed citrus, ashes, quinine, and
pinecones, and a wonderfully
pleasant bite. Bottles are hard to
come by, but try anyway.
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Questions or comments are welcome, I can be reached at
brett@whiskyguild.com
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