Ardbeg 2004 The Character of Islay Whisky Company 15 yo

 

 

 

54,9°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

The Character of Islay Whisky Compagny is a very young independent bottler which appeared in 2019 under the leadership of Atom Brands, also owner of That Boutique-y, Drinks by the Dram, Darkness... And even the online sales site Master of Malt. Within 'The Stories of Wind and Wave' range, they sell premium Single Casks sourced only from the Isle of Islay. Here a very nice 15 year old Ardbeg aged in a single second fill Bourbon cask, which should give the full measure of the distillate. The number of bottles produced is 166 according to the Hard to Find Whisky website, but the bottle pictured here is numbered 167, so there must be a bit more.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Huge explosion in the nose and in the mouth. The peat insinuates itself into all the orifices within its reach. Smoky, ashy, vegetal, grassy. With a touch of minerality and seaweed. Greenish waves, tide, foam, kelp. Citrus hints, then come exotic fruits, banana, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple. Palm heart. Clementine. Grape whose juice squirts. Sandy beach, the sea recedes. Shells, knives, whelks. The palate is more vanilla-like, but remains very coastal, seafood, fish, escabèche sauce, bouillabaisse. Beautiful spices, black pepper, cumin, nutmeg. Charcoal, which holds its own on the finish, very long, very well done, a whale stranded on the shore, gravel, liquorice, vergeoise coulis. Cashew nut.

 

In Short, 

Excellent bottling, it's the quintessence of Ardbeg, its exact DNA, and in addition it is very violent. Just the mouth is very slightly below, it's a shame because the nose and the finish are perfect, precisely what I expect from an Ardbeg aged in a Bourbon barrel. I believe that with this maturation, and at this age, you can hardly do better. It is still found on some sites, the price is certainly very high, but it corresponds to the market unfortunately.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Motörhead - Born to Raise Hell