Ardbeg Uigeadail

Ardbeg Uigeadail (54.2% abv) - fairly affordable if you buy this Duty Free. Otherwise, it's slightly under $200 SGD at some places. And slightly over at others...

Nose - Initially burst of sherry's wine/raisin sweetness. Then the Ardbeg peat and smoke takes over. A hint of vanilla comes through to balance against the peat. The peat on the nose isn't ashy, but is more grassy. Nice touch.

Palate - A touch of sherry sweetness, then grassy. The peat takes over from there, with a bit of alcoholic burn, probably from the high strength. Ashy. This changes to smoke, and then rubber and tanned leather. Vanilla peeks through a bit. A little bitter too. Oak. This is a rather complex taste, for something that has no age statement. Some have complained that the quality of the sherry cask has gone down through the years, but this is still pretty excellent.

Finish - A little minty. Lots of tea. English Breakfast? Drying, with strong wood accompaniment. A bit bitter at the end too. The minty feel lasts quite a while. As does the drying tea tannin.

This one is courtesy of XT, who did a little swap with me. Gave him my leftover Talisker 18, and got a glass of this in return. Pretty good trade. Much as I like the Talisker 18, I think the Uigeadail is actually more complex in the flavours on offer. I think I like Ardbeg's peat more than Laphroaig's. Ardbeg is going to be one of our stops if we ever go on a distillery-hopping tour in Scotland. Together with Lagavulin and Bunnahabhain on Islay, Highland Park from the highlands, Balvenie from Speyside, Springbank in Campbeltown, and maybe Talisker on Skye. Pretty exciting. Gotta start saving.