Read stories about Ardbeg of A Wardrobe of Whisky blog.

I have had this sample for around 2 years and never found time to taste it. Till a few days ago… I like a lot the Ardbeg whiskies profile and some of my best vivid memories of whisky are related to Ardbeg… but when I tasted this one…

“The best most fantastic peated whisky that I have had in a lot of time...”

93

Here at last! It's the Ardbeg Renaissance, the end of the series that began with the 'Very Young' 6 years old. This is the first 10-year old Ardbeg that is entirely comprised of spirit produced after Glenmorangie's takeover of the distillery in 1997.

And it is bottled at cask strength. A great Ardbeg that you can still buy.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (93): more than average. peat, citrus, honey, salt, smoke, vanilla. The fucking peat perfection!

Palate (93): . peat, earth, citrus, honey, vanilla, coffee, salt.

Finish (93): longer than average. peat, salt, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg Renaissance with 93 points over 100.

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Miguel says…

Speechless, I love this kind of peat. Definitively one of the best whiskies I have tasted so far this year ( if we ignore the Lost Blend from Master of Malt ). Glad that I got a bottle when it still had a decent price. Stuff for enjoying.

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Welcome to the Darkness… Darkness is a range of single malt whiskies finished, and some of them aged, in sherry casks to give them that characteristic dark color that is a promise of spices, christmas aromas, cocoa and nuts.

Maverick Drinks send me five samples of their initial batch, an Ardbeg 21 years old finished in PX between them. I were going to explain you about how it was done and what was the finish process and what it does mean to whisky… but I am so anxious to taste them that I don’t really want to lose any more time on small talk.

So the whiskies…

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This one looks like from a big fish because it is too perfect. It lacks of the heat that human made photos exude… nice Ardbeg bottles, many of them from their Committee release, yeah, those whiskies that members of the Commiitee were able to buy before the big release to give feedback to Ardbeg… closed. Sad.

Another post for the Fucking thief. Stealing other persons’ whisky so you can know about it. Is this your photo? Write me to fthief@awardrobeofwhisky.com and I will pay you… homage… and share with A Wardrobe of Whisky’s readers your experience on the tasting. Slainte!

I haven’t taste all of them. They are so expensive and rare now… but let me tell you about the one that I tasted.

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There are three mythical distilleries on the south of Islay: Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. I don’t know if it is the terroir, the water, the air, the peat, but their whiskies are among the heaviest peated drams on the world and they are deliciously great. And best thing of all is that you can afford them.

Another post for the Fucking thief. Stealing other persons’ whisky so you can know about it. Is this your photo? Write me to fthief@awardrobeofwhisky.com and I will pay you… homage… and share with A Wardrobe of Whisky’s readers your experience on the tasting. Slainte!

Enough wording. I am anxious to taste this…

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Umm… is this a joke or we really have a new Ardbeg coming? Auriverdes stands for the gold (aurum) color of the whisky and the green (verde) color of the bottle.

As soon as I have more info I will update this article. If it is as good as Ardbog or Galileo were, this one will be a real cracking dram!.

Just looking forward to it. For sure it will be to expensive to enter in the Top 10 affordable whiskies list but it may enter next year list of ten fantastic drams.

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Argh! Isn’t Spain lovely? Sun, beach, siesta and 35ºC every day of the summer. I am so desperate I will even drink a Johnnie Walker on the rocks. Man! I need a break. So there I was at my favorite summer spot, on the shadows, under a huge ceiling fan when the whisky fairy ringed the door…

My bottle of Laphroaig Cairdeas arrived home and well, as I happen to have several samples of this year Feis Ile 2013 thanks to the chaps of Master of Malt ( thanks to them and to £50 I spent on the samples ) I decided it was time for a proper healthy peat tasting to combat this awful heat wave.

In case you don’t know, Feis Ile is Islay’s annual festival of Malt and Music. Islay has a long and ancient history of Gaelic music and the last week in May was a time when both island musicians and indeed Gaelic folk musicians from the mainland would gather on the island to play and sing at Ceilidh’s, the Gaelic word for Gatherings. But not all it music, all of the eight Islay Whisky Distilleries join the celebration in what is probably the most famous whisky event in the World calendar.

So let’s see some of the whiskies I have taste. Let’s stay from the south and move up.

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I am a huge fan of Ardbeg since the moment I tasted for first time their 10 years old whisky. I love so much the peat, the honey and the motor aromas that I always have two bottles of Ardbeg around: one of 10 years old and one of Uigeidail when I need a bit more of peat-power.

So there I was at home when the whisky fairy knocked on my door and let a big envelop from Glenmorangie. Umm, could it be… Woof! Woof!

Right! This is Ardbog! The latest whisky from my beloved Ardbeg to celebrate with all their fans worldwide the Ardbog Day on June, 1st 2013. With the whisky comes also a coin that features JackieShortie on one side and a boat with many rowers on the other side. A delightful allegory of the hordes of fans that will travel to Islay to enjoy Feis Ile festival.

So, the whisky.

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UPDATE: Read here Ardbog review

The Limited Edition Ardbog will be launched at Ardbeg Day (June 1^st). It is bottled at 52.1% ABV.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distillation and Whisky Creation at Ardbeg, explains:

“The overall combination of effects in Ardbog truly conjures up the impression of ancient, primeval, salty peat bogs, but reassuringly this is combined with some classic, intense Ardbeg notes of leather, toffee and smoke.

“As with all Ardbeg it is about getting the balance of many flavours right so others such as mocha coffee, cloves and even anchovies play their part!”

Ardbog is matured for ten years in traditional American oak ex-bourbon barrels and rare ex-Spanish Manzanilla sherry butts. This gives Ardbog a distinctively salty texture accentuating the salty, briny flavours already prevalent in the whisky.

“At its heart our hallmark smoky yet fruity and floral spirit has been matured in Spanish ex-Manzanilla sherry casks for ten years, which has then been wrapped with traditional Ardbeg of the same age that is matured in American ex-bourbon oak casks. The Manzanilla maturation weaves salty flavours through the whisky which is then balanced with the maple syrup creaminess of the first-fill ex-bourbon casks.”

I just hope it is not awfully expensive.

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