Ardbeg Spectacular - 46%
From the Ardbeg website
Welcome to a spectacle of flavours!
Roll up, roll up...Ladies, gentlemen and Ardbeggians, step right up and behold a modern marvel of maturation – Ardbeg Spectacular. We present to you a spectacle of showstopping flavours. Bear witness to a whisky that exhibits all manner of peculiar notes and aromas.
For the first time ever, Ardbeg Spectacular. has been matured in rare port wine casks. Years in ex-bourbon and port wine casks have imparted a mesmerising array of bizarre notes. Fragrant lavender, vetiver and incense candles tumble into rich almond nuttiness.
Deeper notes such as damp peat and woodsmoke introduce a daring double act of creosote and tar, before leather and minty chocolate leap across to sweet pear crumble and salted caramel fudge.
A bewildering display of distilling, Ardbeg Spectacular. is a certifiable phenomenon of flavour. So come one, come all and feast your palate on the most extraordinary spirit ever to grace this occasion we call Ardbeg Day.
Non chill filtered at 46.0 ABV%.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Burnished gold, forms a thin line which falls slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Damp, ashy peat smoke, tinged with a phenolic salty sea breeze
Palate: Bonfire smoke, softly medicinal peat, toasted almonds, drying oak tannins, cinnamon and ginger spice.
Finish: Ashy bonfire smoke, mild astringency, slightly bitter floral herbs and sea salt, whilst baking spices bring warmth.
Overall: A pleasant whisky, decent enough but a long way from being “spectacular”. For a Port matured whisky, at least in part, I’m surprised by how little influence the cask has had, in fact I’d even go so far as saying the influence barely registers. Instead of the “mesmerising array of bizarre notes” stated in the marketing blurb, this feels like it leans very heavily on the ex-Bourbon cask side of things.
It’s ok, but I was hoping for so much more. Instead I was left with the feeling of yet another overhyped, underwhelming offering from a distillery who can do a lot better.
If you would like more information on this whisky, or the Ardbeg distillery, follow the link to the company website.
