Ardbeg Uigeadail

Bottled in 2009. This is reviewed at about 48 % ABV

Some tearing on the glass and it is quite oily.

Nose: Leather, charcoal and some peat. The alcohol is a bit sticky on the nose and it is difficult to sense any details. With more water the leather becomes the only smell and the alcohol is more protruding. This is not as complex as I expected.

Palate: A lot of leather and charcoal. I find a tiny bit of iodine but it isn't taking over. But there is also something a little bit bitter in the back that is not flattering. The alcohol numbs the toung a bit. It is less oily on the palate than the appearence in the glass. With more water the taste of charcoal is dominating the peat disappears and only a little bit of leather is left. It starts to taste a bit of alcohol but the bitterness is gone.

Aftertaste: Long and lingering. At first there are heavy charcoal and some charcoal smoke. Develops to peat and leather. More water makes the charcoal smoke come out more but it is flatter than with the higher alcohol level.

Balance: The somewhat bitter taste, although it is only peripheral, is a disappointment but other than that there is not any tastes that sticks out. The leather and charcoal is what marks this whisky. On the other hand this is not as complex as I expect from a high profile Ardbeg.

I also tried this at my local favorite pub and that one was much more complex and much better than my bottle. I remember clear tones of licorice that is not present here.

This is not a bad dram but this bottling can not be what Jim Murray gave the Whisky of the year award.

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