Ardbeg 2000 Traigh Bhan 19 yo Batch 1

46,2°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

The distillery wanted to gratify us with a beautiful prestige edition, but as soon as the bottle went on sale, it was sold out. Today, it is very difficult to get hold of.

Let's Taste It : 

Very subtle peat, light lemon and other citrus, wood. Mountain honey, candied plum, very ripe mirabelles. A hint of iodine and foam. Smoke appears at the end of the nose, quite fine and grainy. Very well-balanced palate, with white fruits, vanilla, coconut and slowly rising spices. Quite a long finish with a whiff of charcoal and damp earth. Ferns. Undergrowth. An Ardbeg this old is a bit paradoxical, as if someone wanted to nuance the power.

In Short, 

It's certainly very good, even excellent, but I'm not totally convinced. The long maturation and subtlety don't make up for the lack of power, in my opinion. And anyway, the price is extravagant.

Score : 89

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Lou Reed - Oh Jim

Ardbeg Supernova SN 2010

60,1°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2010

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated above 100 ppm

There are 5 editions of Supernova. The 2009 (the 'Stellar'), followed by the 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2019 editions. The first two and the last were aged exclusively in bourbon casks, while the third and fourth also received a small number of sherry casks. The 2010 version has the highest alcohol content.

Let's Taste It :

The nose starts out very smoky, then the peat takes over, pure. It's the Ardbeg blast, this sensation of a punch in the face. A few white fruits, a touch of lemon, that's all. A vegetal, almost pastoral peat. With vegetables, a bit of varnish, wax and an ounce of earth. A power that makes your head spin. On the palate, the fruits come through, mirabelles, greengages, green apples, then the pepper hammers in. Finally, an explosive finish that leaves an aftertaste of charcoal and vanilla.

 

In Short, 

An interesting and pleasurable experience for sure. But for me, the whole thing is a bit monochrome, and the price is way beyond reasonable anyway. 

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping t :

  

                                           Deep Purple - Child In Time

Ardbeg Grooves Committee Release

51,6°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Charred Wine and Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

Bottled in 2017, this edition went on sale in 2018. It has been aged in charred casks, which are heated and charred to grooves.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, strong pungent peat sprinkled with bourbon. Vanilla, caramel, icing sugar, a touch of mint. It's fresh, slightly woody and spicy. The palate is very carbonated, the peat explodes, a touch of salt, white fruits, plums and grapes, liquorice, then the pepper emerges, imposes itself with a thunderous force, leading to a rather timid and slightly short finish, with a hint of caramel, heather earth and walnuts. Liquorice, aniseed and mint in retro-olfaction.

In Short, 

It's very good, and rather original, peat, vanilla and charcoal are a good combination. On the other hand, the price is frankly exaggerated. It's far from bad, but it doesn't deserve the sky-high prices it's sold for.

Score : 87

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping : :

   

                                          Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way

Ardbeg 1999 Galileo 12 yo

49°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Marsala and Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2012

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

This limited edition of 15,000 units pays tribute not only to the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei, but above all to the space probe that bears his name, launched in 1989 towards Jupiter. A few samples of this blend were sent into space aboard the Soyuz capsule in 2011, with the aim of observing the evolution of the whisky's molecules and aromas in a micro-gravity universe.

Let's Taste It : 

First the fruity influence of marsala casks, with candied cherries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, cinnamon, star anise, then the peat rises, grimy, rocky, oily. The marriage is made after a short struggle. At last, iodine freshness, but with thicker, earthier peat. At the end, the marsala is discreet, but it comes back on the palate, almost vinous, thick and tasty, muscat grapes, cranberry juice, then the spices rise. The finish is very long and quite deep, with caramel, red fruits and cumin.

 

In Short, 

A very pleasant expression, strongly marked by marsala, but totally disproportionately priced.

Score : 88

                                         To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Marillion - Script For A Jester's Tear

Port Askaig 100° Proof

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling

By Elixir Distillers 

Core Range

Single Malt

Launched in 2015

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

The Port Askaig range was founded in 2009 by Speciality Drinks, a bottler whose name was changed to Elixir Distillers later. This ageless expression is the most accessible in the range, and the most ancient one.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is peaty, smoky, silty without being acidic, tempered by a pleasant maritime freshness and a pinch of salt. The palate is quite lemony, mixed with caramel and what seems to be pomegranate. Despite its 57° alcohol content, there's very little hint of alcohol, except on the finish, where the lemon gives way to red fruits and a touch of earth. A delicate length on the palate, slightly salty and oily. This is a good cask strength, quite fine and well thought out. The nose is similar to that of Caol Ila. I'd recommend adding a splash of water, which will give it much more balance.

In Short, 

A fine juice dominated by bourbon and peat, with a hint of red fruits. It's a really nice spirit, and at a fair price. You can treat yourself without regret.

Score : 86

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Lambchop - Give It

Oban 14 yo

43°

Distillery : Oban - Highlands

Refill Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling

Core Range

Single Malt

Launched in 1982

Almost Unpeated

This one was included in the Classic Single Malts of Scotland in 1987, a selection of the most typical whiskies owned by Diageo.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, smoky peat gives way to lemon and a sweet smell of nuts. A hint of menthol, herbaceous fragrances and an autumnal breeze. Light fruits, not too ripe. Quinces, apricots. On the palate, peat and honey return. A touch of vanilla. Peach core. The whole remains velvety and slightly woody.  The finish is very smooth and fairly long. A dash of dried fruits. Pungent cereals in retro-olfaction. Barley, hops, wheat. It's fragile and gently balanced.

In Short, 

It's velvet, as people often say. That said, it's not really up to my taste, lacking character.

Score : 83

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping : :

   

                                          Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See A Darkness

Finlaggan Original Peaty

40°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay  

Bourbon Casks

Indeoendentt Bottling

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Limited

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2009

Peated around 35 to 38 ppm

This bottling is quite old and well known to peat lovers. Some say it's Lagavulin, others say it's Caol Ila, but no one knows for sure. Ageing in bourbon casks is very likely.

Let's Taste It :

On the nose: salt, peat, salt. It's simple, direct, straight to the point. Well, that's not all, there's also ash, iodine, smoke, damp earth, limestone, guano. Wet grass after the rain. It's slightly medicinal. On the palate, the coarse salt combines with soft caramel, aniseed and a few spices. The finish is quite peppery, still salty, still spicy. The shade of salted caramel remains evanescent on the palate, but only for a short time. The lack of complexity is offset by the power of the coarse salt. Such simplicity was a daring move. I'm leaning towards Caol Ila.

 

In Short, 

The strongly iodised and peaty nose is very impressive. The rest lacks maturity and complexity. The value for money is very good, so why not let yourself be tempted, but don't expect great class.

Score : 82

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Gossip - Heavy Cross

Monkey Shoulder Batch 27

40°

Distillery : The Balvenie, Kininvie, Glenfiddich - Speyside

Independent Bottling

By William Grant & Sons

Core Range 

Blended Malt

Launched in 2005

Totally Unpeated

This Blended has been making its way into supermarkets over the last few years with some success.

Let's Taste It : 

A very Speyside profile, light and fruity with shy malty hints. Apricots, tulips and white fruits. Juicy pears. Some sweet candies, tagada strawberries. After a while, there are notes of exotic fruits, banana and mango. On the palate, it goes down smoothly. It's not aggressive but it lacks character. A cereal touch, malted barley and cola seeds, creamy vanilla, a few evanescent spices. Gentle finish, hops and lemon. Dried apricots. Milk chocolate avec hazelnuts. 

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, but it's still very light. In my opinion, it's sorely lacking in character. However, the value for money may prove convincing for some.

Score : 78

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive