ARDBEG DISTILLERY Grooves Committee 51.6% abv 700ml

This release is sold in honor of Ardbeg Day 2018 (June 2) held during the Islay Festival of Music & Malt (Fèis Ìle). The theme for Ardbeg Day this year is “Peat & Love”. This “groovy” bottle gets its name from the grooves obtained after heavily-charring the former red wine casks used to age a portion of the whisky.

Bottled at 51.6% abv.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Berbere Ethiopian spice

Nose: Smoked cinnamon and paprika, antique leather and saddle soap with classic pine resin, tar, and briney seaspray. With a bit of water, you get lovely notes of beach campfire followed by lavender-scented soap and white pepper intertwined with floral and herbal notes. Fresh flowers mixed with coriander and mint.

Palate: An interesting salty mouthfeel with sweet treacle toffee, vanilla popcorn, salted peaches, and a hint of soot and tar. Mesquite barbecue rub with paprika, spice, mustard, and a haze of smoked fruits.

Finish: Smoked paprika and beach bonfire with mellow sweetness.