The final time I reviewed a latest official bottling from Ardbeg distillery is nearly two years in the past. Traigh Bhan undoubtedly satisfied me, however the remainder of the releases usually appear gimmicky to me, selecting advertising tales over substance. You pay additional for a whisky with one barely deviant component, usually an unusual cask kind.
Now Ardbeg Scorch crossed my path. It was the Ardbeg Day 2021 launch and it follows the identical advertising recipe. Based on the distillery, the title refers back to the fiercly charred ex-bourbon casks which held this whisky (just like Ardbeg Alligator then?). There’s no age assertion and a reasonably commonplace 46% ABV.
Ardbeg Scorch (46%, OB 2021)
Nostril: the smoky notes are certainly fairly deep and sooty, with glowing charcoal and hints of roasted hazelnuts. Nonetheless a aromatic contact (in between recent herbs and pine refreshener) appears to wipe out a number of the smokiness. Then lemon peel and vanilla. There’s a touch of banana chocolate and candy peach too. Fairly good, though it comes out thinner than I hoped.
Mouth: the burnt wooden theme continues, additionally including a barely acrid contact of scorched sage with a drops of natural bitters. Iodine and sea shells. The bitter edge is shortly balanced by caramel sweetness, cinnamon, aniseed and a few nutty notes. Whereas there was a fruity component on the nostril, it doesn’t seem within the mouth. Vanilla and wooden spice in direction of the tip.
End: lengthy, with cigarette ashes, tarry notes, black peppercorns and rubber.
I feel the nostril units good expectations, however they aren’t met on the palate the place it turns into barely blunt and coarse. Complexity isn’t excessive, and whereas it has a deeply smoky layer, it additionally suffers from a skinny middle. Offered out after all.
