Removing the cask heads to expose more wood during toasting, Ardbeg have whisky upside down and inside out…
Tempering the briny overtones, ramping up hidden chocolatey sweetness and magnifying sensations of mocha.
The result? A multidimensional dram that morphs between four key elements – sweet, smoky, herbal and spicy – all seamlessly merging in a mesmerising taste experience.
Non chill filtered at 48.2%.
Nose: Earthy, dusty, and slightly biscuity on the nose, this is a most curious Ardbeg, almost from an alternative universe. The sooty/tarry notes are clear but restrained, and are balanced out by some silky vanilla.
Palate: The mouthfeel is peppery and warming, and precedes an explosion of fiery, spicy flavours – chili – flavoured chocolate, bitter sweet mocha, briar wood, birch tar, ground black pepper and smoked artichokes.
Finish: The sooty/tarry notes build up to a crescendo of rich, smoky flavours, with an incredible, lingering aftertaste of charcoal bitter almonds and molasses.