Ardbeg 2011

Smoked mackerel wrapped in newspaper. It was raining, I got wet, and I caught a taxi. Fish in the newspaper under the armpit. We pass an industrial zone, the windows of the taxi are fogged up. I feel like smoking. Because of the rain, I can’t make out the streets and people: streams of rain are rapidly running down. These are “Three Poplars on Plyushchikha”, Doronina and Efremov here.

Wow, I've rarely had such a beautiful, lively, fizzy orange note in a malt. Lots of salted caramel, various roasted nuts, pitch-black tar, tobacco and leather... And that's all it takes to convince me. With water and time in the glass, the whole thing becomes even creamier and more intense. A wonderful Ardbeg Single Cask.

Captivating scent! A board! Super dram.

Jaffa cake, burnt potatoes from the fire, almonds and nougat. Great cask selection.

Refreshing sherry peat. Dry in mouth, and long nutty sherry finish. Very good.

A great cask with a thick Ardbeg character on top. Certainly a small revelation for fans of the distillery. I would like an unpeated Ardbeg to go with this. Please don't take this review too seriously, it's already a great barrel. Well done!

fatty, smoked mackerel doused in old strong sherry…

Finally a drinkable Ardbeg. Besides Amontillado nuttiness, I love a certain numbing sensation, similar to Szechuan pepper

Strong Ardbeg character, but very pleasant round taste. Overall a great whisky. Got a sample of german ebay.

.... i love it = ) (no we don´t talk about the price = )

EYE/NOSE Visually, the malt from the butt is a deep amber. A great, shiny color. The typical, intense smoke and peat smell of Ardbeg with its tarry, lemony and mossy notes is complemented by the unmistakable nutty and woody notes of the Amontillado. With a little rest, aromas of roasted almonds and macadamia nuts can be brought out. The maturation in the Amontillado cask has left wonderful traces. Dried orange peel finds a perfectly functioning 'counterpart' in a salty biscuit note. There is also a fresh, slightly ashy sweetness that can be attributed to the distillate as well as the sherry influence. In the background I notice spicy notes such as cinnamon and nutmeg, which mix with liquorice notes and fresh vanilla. Great scent that makes you want more. PALATE The first impression is oily, then the warm alcohol pushes forward a little, but immediately makes way for the strong, peaty taste that is so typical of the products of the south coast distillery at Kildalton Cross. On the tongue, too, the distillate in the foreground harmonizes excellently with the sweet and nutty notes of the Amontillado sherry. The aroma profile is deep but compact. A sweet, caramel note complements the smoky character and ensures a balanced sweetness that never takes over. I note aromas of dried fruit. Dates and juicy large sultanas expand the taste dimension even further. Again a little salt and something subtly mineral that reminds me of lime and chalk, paired with salted almonds and orange zest. Nice spice without bitterness. Very mature and complex for its age. Bottled at the perfect time, I would say. FINISH/CONCLUSION The strong smoke of the Ardbeg produces more and more cold ash, which lingers on the palate for a long time and is accompanied by nutty impressions and delicate oak spices. The combination of balsamic notes and warm spices leaves a very lasting, pleasant impression. Towards the end it becomes drier, but never astringent. Long, chalky-ashy-sweet aftertaste. Very pleasant, a little reminiscent of dessert wine. Exceptionally well-struck balance between the very typical, intensely peaty character of the distillate and the complex aromas of the Amontillado sherry, which leads to a very successful overall result. No weaknesses - apart from the price, of course, no off notes. More notes and reviews on Facebook: #Maltkanzlei

Better than I expected. The issue price is very 'proud', but you get a lot. 86-90 – Wow, really good one, needs a bottle