Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg!

A special release to celebrate the retirement of Mickey Heads, a release matured in ex-rye casks rather than the standard ex-bourbon casks. A silly MSRP, and even sillier actual prices in stores and on the secondary market, I managed to find a bottle and bit the bullet, figuring it could yield some return on investment for use in sample swaps. I figured since it was a Committee Release, Ardbeg Day would be a great time to post a review.

Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg!, Islay Single Malt, 51.8% ABV

Minutia: Matured for some amount of time in ex-rye casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Pale gold, 0.3.

Nose: Vegetal, smoke, a weird fruit. Beachy but not maritime if that makes sense.

Taste: Vegetal, some fruitiness/sweetness, spices. 

Finish: Bitterness/oaky, also a bit like cocoa. Big smoke.

It’s a really neat take on classic Ardbeg. I do like it, and I’m still happy I grabbed a bottle to try it, but the MSRP was definitely pushing it in terms of value and the larger prices are not a good bang for your buck, but the market is bearing it so it seems that’s going to be the cost of entry here.

Score: 85

Musical Evocation: Alestorm – “Captain Morgan’s Revenge”