Distillery/Brand: Ardbeg
Region: Islay
ABV: 57.1%
Colour: Sunlight

Nose: 23
Taste: 22
Finish: 22
Balance: 22

Review
Yes, I’m one of those. The die-hard Ardbeggians that will fight tooth and nail for this whisky and climb mountains to defend it’s honor! Now that we have that established let me tell you this particular expression fails to ignite extravagant fireworks.

It is good in it’s own right but it is not magnificent. This one under review has the code L12 302 13:31 6ML etched on the base making it a late 2012 bottling.

Nose: The nose is what you would expect from this untamed spirit. Like standing on the coast in the midst of peaty hailstorm with your weathered fish nets hung across your shoulder. The smell of tar and road works emanates from beneath your leather galoshes. The reluctant tangerines and honey are there but understandably subdued in the face of this charr-y onslaught.

Palate: The peat is strong on the palate while the charr pounds everything into soot. The peppers, some vanilla and that familiar lemony citrus get the same overdone treatment. At 57.1% ABV this one is not for the faint hearted.

Finish: The sooty diesel finish stays for a while gruffly ordering you to take another sip.

This is a good Corry. Just not the best one I’ve tasted.

Rating: 89