Rated at our "All of Islay" July 2011 tastings with 80 people giving it an average score of Score 8.29
NOSE: Dry, iodised salt, Islay, tarmac, peat, creamy honey, oily apricots, depth, musty,
leather, marzipan, liquorice, rubber, grappa, spring rain on tarseal, wet newspaper, pine, burnt
pies.
PALATE: Friendly (breakfast malt), strong, oily, perfumed, astringent, metals, ashtray yet sweet
note.
FINISH: Bright, Cheese, smoke, salt, tobacco, woody, builds, light and refreshing, bitter
wallnuts, fire, young, mouthwash, glossy chinese wrapping paper, wet newspapers, medium/long.
RWS/DMM
Reviewed at our Ardbeg tastings February 2009:
Nose: dirty, salt, iodine, marmalade, mushy peas, musty, easy alcohol, minerals, woolen socks, dry and cloudy.
Palate:dirty floral soap, buttery, white cake, overshadowed by the cask strength bottlings on the night.
Finish: Bitter lemons, dry smoke, medium.
RWS/DMM
AROMA - Exceptional balance and depth. At full strength, the aroma is a beguiling mix of toffee and chocolate sweetness, cinnamon spice and medicinal phenols. Fresh citrus and floral notes of white wine are evident, as are melon, pear drops and a gentle creaminess. There is also the fresh phenolic aroma of sea spray and smoked fish. Hickory and coffee emerge later as the most volatile top notes fade. With water, the depth of the peat opens up, at once revealing layers of phenols with gristy peat and and leather followed by medicinal phenols (carbolic soap) and a whiff of wood smoke. However, the sweetness of vanilla and the fragrance of citrus fruits are never far behind, maintaining the balance and intrigue.
TASTE - An initial moderate and clean sweetness of deep peat notes, with tobacco smoke and strong espresso coffee, which then gives way to treacle sweetness and liquorice.The mouthfeel is firstly lightly spiced, then chewing, and mouthwatering and full, finally drying.
FINISH - Long and smoky. A smoky sweetness is left on the palate, with a crushed peat and sweet-malted cereal character
Source Ardbeg.com.