Advent 2021 #23 - Elements of Islay Ar7

Enough of these samples have turned up this year where it almost feels like an Elements of Islay Advent calendar (something that would probably be successful if they made it, thinking of it). Really looking forward to this one as Ar11, a different PX Ardbeg turned up and impressed in last years calendar, amusingly also on day 23.

Elements of Islay Ar7, Islay Single Malt, 56.3% ABV

Minutia: Distilled at Ardbeg in the early 2000s and matured in a PX butt for ana unspecified amount of years and bottled in 2016. Reviewed blind, neat in an opaque glencairn.

Color: Mahogany, henna notes; 1.6.

Nose: Musty, a little smoky. Fruit used to be here. Medicinal vibes. Makes me think of a hospital which closed after a fire and you’re in the room where they kept fruit.

Taste: Smoky, medicinal honey. Wood.

Finish: Earthy, smoke, warming. Long.

Guess: Feels like Laphroaig, maybe Lagavulin DE. 

Alright, not too bad. I guess the other two of the Kildalton trio, and sort of got the task with the DE guess. This didn’t impress as much as the 19 year old Ar11, but it’s still quite a nice dram. My desire to get more sherried Ardbegs remains intact.

Score: 87

Here are links to the other posts from this calendar: