As part of the Islay Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle) Ardbeg has released their Ardbeg Day Limited edition and this one is truly on fire. Ardbeg Scorch pays homage to the dragon folk tale that once lived not only in Islay, but in Ardbeg’s Dunnage Warehouse 3. The whisky is matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks that are fiercely charred and packed with smoke.

Nose: smoke, sage, and cloves

Palate: salt, peat, sweet smoke, and liquorice

Finish: peat smoke and oak

Cost: $129 (this is what we paid for the bottle)

This whisky is classic Ardbeg. The minute you taste it, you know what brand you are drinking. It’s peaty, smooth, lightly sweet and everything you’d expect from a quintessential Ardbeg.

I compared this edition to the Wee Beastie and to the Arrrrrrrdbeg bottling which also released this year. Out of the three I liked the Scorch best, followed by the Wee Beastie and then the Arrrrrrrdbeg bottling. Out of them all Scorch is peatier and has more of a smoke mouthfeel.

If you don’t like peat, then this is not for you. I personally love me some peat, so I love this bottling, which means I am slightly biased. However, this is not your everyday drinking whisky during the summer. This is one that we are going to save on our shelves for that cold evening. It’s warming and delicious.

Cheers

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.