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Ardbeg
Pronounced "Ard-BEG"
As you can deduct from the banner on top, Ardbeg is one of my favourites. Ardbeg has been owned by Glenmorangie since 1997. New releases are manageable (looking at all my pictures, it still looks a lot though) and from the official releases sold on this end of the Channel, I think I have most them (but not all). Aye, I happily followed the trail from the peat monster to Ardbeg Renaissance (although some notes are missing). Since then, several more superb whiskies have been released. On the whole, aye, an Ardbeg is a feast for my palate. I do like it peaty and Ardbeg equals peat (or at least it should).
Ardbeg 10
46%
Non chill-filtered
Such a classic; such a bloody good whisky. It's strong and commanding, like some old Highland clan once ruling that same island. It powerfully claims your palate without kicking your teeth out.
This bottle is Ardbeg's main release.
Ardbeg 17
40%
To my own shame I must admit I made no notes of this whisky. The empty bottle is still on my shelves though, so I must have liked it.
Very Old Ardbeg
Released in 1996 (so prior to the Glenmorangie take-over)
Guaranteed 30 years old
40%
Proudly sitting on my shelf, waiting for a special occasion
Ardbeg Very Young
Distilled 1998 - bottled 2004
58.3%
Non chill-filtered
Dubbed the peat monster and bottled at natural strength, this young whisky simply exploded in your mouth. Not many whiskies can get away with bottling a six-year-old single malt, but Ardbeg could. I loved it.
For some odd reason I seem to have missed the "Still Young" which was bottled in 2006.
Ardbeg Almost There
Distilled 1998 - bottled 2007
54.1%
Non chill-filtered
Alas, I cannot find any notes whatsoever. All I remember is that I liked it.
Ardbeg Renaissance
Distilled 1998 - bottled 2008
55.9%
Non chill-filtered
The end of the cask-strengths from the first distillation to a classic 10-year-old.
It had a pale gold colour.
Its fragrance was sharp and dry.
It was very peaty and ionized.
Ardbeg Serendipity
40%
Guaranteed 12 years old
BLENDED
Supposedly by accident, when young Glen Moray was mixed with Ardbeg whisky, this was released in 2005. I got it as a present, but didn't really like it. This was not a good bottle.
Ardbeg Lord of the Isles
25 years old
46%
I only tasted it once at a whisky tasting so my own bottle is still happily sitting on my shelf.
From the notes I made, it had a peaty smell (surprise), had a rich and robust taste and left a long and pleasant glow in the mouth.
To be tasted again at a later point.
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Released 2003
54.2%
Non chill-filtered
Voted Whisky of the Year 2009 and won several more prizes, this is a superb whisky. It's brilliantly complex, very peaty, full-bodied, explosive and yet well-balanced. And it delightfully lingers in your mouth.
It's part of the regular range now.
Ardbeg Airigh nam Beist
Released 2004
46%
Non chill-filtered
Golden colour and the expected peaty fragrance.
Full-bodied, warm and peaty taste.
When I tasted it the first time, I wrote down: "Bloody good and well-balanced whisky".
Replaced by Ardbeg Corryvreckan.
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
First released 2008
57.1%
Now part of the general range, it is currently sold with the same green label as most other Ardbeg bottles.
A golden colour and a peaty and sharp fragrance.
It's strong
and aye, it does taste like you have a whirlpool in your mouth. When you swallow the whisky, it seems to last forever in your mouth.
Ardbeg Blasda
Released 2008
40%
Some like it, I have no particular favour for it. To me Ardbeg is peat and this lightly peated Ardbeg is good, but there are plenty of lightly peated single malts out there.
It's still part of the Ardbeg range.
Ardbeg Supernova
First released 2009
60.1%
Bottled at a whopping volume of 60%, this was the peatiest Ardbeg ever distilled to that date (I think they had some peat left following the Blasda experiment).
Pale in colour, its fragrance is sharp with hints of vanilla.
Ardbeg Alligator
Released 2011
51.2%
Called the peatiest Ardbeg ever (and that after the Supernova).
Awaiting my notes.
Ardbeg Galileo
Released 2012
49%
Released to celebrate the fact that Ardbeg officially went into space. To be precise: late 2011 a vial containing unmatured malt with particles of charred oak hitchhiked to the International Space Station where it orbited for over a 1,000 days. An identical vial remained at the Ardbeg distillery. The precious cargo returned from space to Kazakhstan in September 2014 to be tested and compared with its twin in Houston Texas. A unique opportunity for the whisky industry. What will gravity have done to the maturation process?
The first results came in September 2015. Comparing both whiskies had an expert nose and palate judge the space whisky to have an enhanced flavour and character. The few years in space apparently added to the Ardbeg's typical smoky and phenolic character.
You can keep track of what's happening on the Ardbeg website.
As for the Galileo itself, I still haven't tasted this one yet. It's happily looking down on me from my shelf.
Ardbog
Released 2013
52.1%
Non chill-filtered
On my first tasting, I thought the fragrance was saltier than all other Ardbegs. The second time I thought it rather dry, clearly smelling the wood.
It tasts surprisingly mild, sweet, is well-balanced, not heavily peated (surprise, or I'm getting too accustomed ot it), but not explosive at all, with an easy-going finish.
Ardbeg Auriverdes
Released 2014
49.9%
The 2014 edition, more exclusive, more expensive.
I tasted it once (without tasting notes). It's a lot and lot dryer than the Ardbog. To be tasted thoroughly soon.
Ardbeg Perpetuum
Released 2015
47.4%
Celebrating 200 years of Ardbeg! What better way to have a new whisky.
I definitely should put all these limited editions in a row and have a proper tasting. One is even better than the other.
Ardbeg Dark Cove
Released 2016
46.5%
Dark and delightfully peaty.
Ardbeg Kelpie
Released 2017
46%
Non-chill filtered
It's announced as oily peat and it is certainly that. Quite different than the previous year's Dark Cove.
