46°
Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay
Ex-Bourbon and Sauternes Wine Casks
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2023
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Peated around 54 ppm
The Anthology range was launched in 2023 by Ardbeg, and this is its first incarnation. It was aged for 13 years and has been influenced by a few Sauternes wine casks. This interests me, as I have always enjoyed the combination of Sauternes and peat, which can sometimes be very successful.
Let's Taste It :
Intense peat, but not too strong, herbaceous, mossy, dry earth, then the influence of Sauternes comes through. But it's not perfectly balanced, fermented fruit, slightly acidic mirabelle plums. With a drop of water, it softens, icing sugar, candied banana, pomegranate. Beeswax. Vanilla pastry cream, rum baba. It is airy, but also mineral, quartz, slate. Candied lemon. On the palate, it is oily, almost thick, the peat is discreet, few spices. Liquid honey, white peaches, green pears, olives. Long and powerful finish, charcoal, cola, slight bitterness, mahogany bark, dried asparagus.
In Short,
I'm a bit disappointed. It's not often that you find an Ardbeg of this age, and it's not particularly successful. The balance on the nose isn't perfect, but it improves with a few drops of water and some patience. It's good, but I was expecting better. In my humble opinion, the asking price is too high.
Score : 87
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Lindy-Fay Hella - Los
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