Ardbeg 1999 Galileo 12 Year Old

Realised to commemorate a couple of vials of Ardbeg been shot into space and onto the international space station to observe how whisky ages in low gravity environments.

Nose: The peat smoke is quite heavy and think much smokier then last years limited release the alligator, has hints of peach, Mellon and apricot like fruit sweetness. The vanilla notes from ardbegs bourbon barrels is there as well. Gets a slight creamy smoothness from extended air contact as well.

Palate: Starts quite sweet, with a nice fruitiness from the wine (peach, plum, melons) and a good hint of vanilla. Quickly becomes peaty and salty and medicinal like you would expect from and Ardbeg. Becomes smooth and creamy towards the end of the palate.

Finish: finishes with tastes of salty peat, hints of sweetness and a good cloud of smoke.

I liked this whisky a lot particularly how the fruity sweetness (very different from the oogys fruity sweetness) balances with very strong hits of smoke. Also as a side note I thought the whisky had a very pretty colour, never seen a whisky that was so amber sap kind of gold before.

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