Review by: dustbunna
I’m not sure how many folks here were introduced to Ardbeg through the smash-your-face intensity that is Corryvreckan. Most seem to get their hands on the 10yr first, or fall in love with Uigeadail’s sweet-peat. (It’s also reviewed about half as often as the 10yr and Oogie.) Not so for me– Corryvreckan was my first love as far as Ardbeg is concerned. Several years ago, I was gifted a bottle by a friend who utterly loved this dram, and finished that bottle well before I bought my first Glencairn. This was the gateway whisky for me, the one that made me interested in exploring the nuances of Scotch. I bought another bottle last year as part of my reviewing journey (and yet another at the end of the year when I learned the price was increasing to $115 locally– thanks, tariffs…)
This is the ABV kingpin of the distillery’s core range, a non-chill-filtered, naturally presented NAS bottled at 57.1% (100 Imperial proof) with some quantity of the vatting finished in French Limousin oak casks and the rest in American ex-bourbon casks. The French oak is often described as imparting a spicy, peppery quality, although I have also read that it’s known in wine circles for contributing a silky texture.
Distillery: Ardbeg.
Bottler: Distillery bottling.
Region: Islay.
ABV: 57.1%.
Age: NAS. Bottled in 2018.
Cask type: Vatting of first-fill/second-fill ex-bourbon with French Limousin oak casks.
Price: $85 USD.
Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.
Bottle open across approx. 4 months, notes taken leisurely across that period. Bold notes taken beneath the shoulder, regular-formatted notes taken further into the bottle past the halfway point.
Nose: heavy campfire smoke, vanilla custard, minerals, grapes, Meyer lemons, Thai peanut sauce, bacon, forest decay, lemon meringue pie, medicinal notes in the background.
Palate: thick, satiny body ~ arrival smashes in with iodine, black pepper, more campfire smoke, creme de menthe, mellows a bit and brings out a funky Campbeltown-like earthiness.
Finish: long ~ minerals, smoke, more black pepper, old-school lime candy, vanilla ice cream, wood spice, spearmint, sweet lime intensifies.
Conclusion: I find this dangerously drinkable neat at 100 Imperial proof. More so than any dram I’ve ever had, this is one that consistently has to sit at the end of the lineup because it’s such a heavy hitter. The initial bouquet is tremendously complex, though it gets easier to pick out over time. Some of the more potent peat/pepper/bacon eventually fades, but leaves behind smoked-citrus-pie notes and so much more sweet lime and earth/forest floor than I remembered the first time I had it. Enjoyable and constantly engaging.
Compared to the 10yr, Corryvreckan was just a richer, deeper experience, especially once I acclimated to the peat and pepper and started to taste what’s behind them. Ardbeg’s core range is strong and tasty in general, but Corry in particular really hits me with a lot of the things I love about whisky.
Final Score: 88.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 