It’s Ardbeg day! – Tasting Ardbeg Ardbog

ardbog.11jpgIt’s this time of year again, and Ardbeg day is upon us. This year Ardbeg is releasing a special bottling by the name of Ardbog (a nice word game combining ardbeg and the peat bogs into one word). Being an iconic distillery with a huge following , every new Ardbeg release causes quite a stir, and a lot of people are wondering how the new release is, so here is my take on it. I’m sure you’ve seen quite a few reviews out there (or rather previews). first of all a bit of information about this new one : Ardbog is matured for ten years in traditional American oak ex-bourbon barrels and rare ex-Spanish Manzanilla sherry butts, at a nice 52.1% ABV.

Ardbeg Ardbog 10 yo, 52.1% ABV, £79.99Ardbeg_ArdbogBS

Nose: Sweet toffee layered upon peat , ash and salted toffee. A bit herbal too. Ash. Sweet peat and earthy notes in addition to smoked ham and salted cashew nuts. Sweet savoury yet medicinal and earthy. Brilliant.

Palate : quite oily and big. Stars with salted nuts and almonds , toffee. Big peat notes with a hot cinnamon edge. A hint of apples and tons if ash, with a touch of sea brine.

Finish : long semi sweet semi bitter finish. Dark chocolate. Ash. Coffee.

Bottom line

This is one of the better Ardbegs I’ve had lately, and it’s slightly better than last year’s Ardbeg day in my opinion as well as Galileo. It’s yummy, and the combination of sweet and salty nuts and smoked meat is indeed lovely. I am confident it shall be a big success among Ardbeg (and peat) lovers. While it’s not cheap at 80 quid, with today’s rising prices, it’s nothing extraordinary.

Ardbog will be available on the Ardbeg site, and in Ardbeg Embassies all over the world from Saturday 1st June 2013.

Score: 90/100

official sample provided by Glenmorangie group

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