Ardbeg Heavy Vapours 46% ABV

Peated whisky fans should be all-ears this is an unusual bottling from acclaimed Islay distillery Ardbeg released to mark its annual Ardbeg Day celebrations. Its got a surprisingly ashy weightiness and texture due to a tweak to the stills. For this batch, the team removed the purifier as part of an experimental distilling run. The purifier usually keeps the heavy peat in check, allowing floral fruitiness to come through in the distillate too. Not here! A must-taste for those that enjoy the smokier side of whisky.

Tasting note:

Nose: Pronounced, vegetal and intense, with creosote, tar, petrichor and a farmyard funk. Dark chocolate sneaks in with some water.

Palate: A bittersweetness cuts through the ash, with citrus, aniseed and coffee joining the coal-like profile.

Finish: Bold and very long with a drying smoke.