First impression / color / viscosity: Yes, a classic - only the packaging and marketing Blah blah on it enchant me. Of course, the first impression is due to the smoke. Color: saffron / viscosity: very oily run-off Aroma / Nose feeling: Pleasant feeling at the first Verriechen, only light alcoholic stinging (passes). Pleasant smoke that reminds me of a burnt camp fire. Such a campfire on which you sat all night and the next morning even smells like the ashes. Slightly grassy and already very sweet when I smelt, I would also describe the malt. Over time, caramelized lemon peels that blend in harmoniously. Taste / mouthfeel: This sweetness, this freshness, this citrus note - I just love it. At the beginning, the scotch tingles on the tip of the tongue and the oak turns the pepper mill on the inside of the cheeks. As a result, I notice the stunningly chocolaty, creamy mouthfeel with the ubiquitous smoke and superbly incorporated alcohol. With water, the single malt is a perfect treat. Round and sweet, slightly spicy with green wood, vanilla and nut cream. In addition, unripe peach and green grapes and their seeds. Except for the Octomore OBA I could not find this purity, balance and perfection in any other smoker (heavily peated, without majority ex-Sherry Fassreifung). Sure, there are plenty of other good smokers but as here, in the way no one else came into the glass. Finish / aftertaste / Length: A long, sweet finish, which is characterized by the pleasant smoke. The finish also reflects floral and especially refreshing aromas. The Nachschmecken is minimal bitter and a bit sour. I feel like spending a long evening in a smoky bar. Overall impression / comment: I have to admit that I'm not objective here - I just love this malt and all the trappings around it. I even like the progressive marketing of Ardbeg, as it obviously is marketing and I do not have to feel kidding as a customer (in contrast, I hate "back-end marketing"). Well at least regarding flavors / taste: For me (!) This is the best single malt Scotch, which is constantly available and still priced in the (subjectively) affordable framework holds. At least from those I've tasted so far ... Points: 95/100; By the way, the original from 2003 (bottled) got one more point with me ...

I just tried four different Uigeadails (2008, 2011, 2012, and 2016) together and from the comparison it was obvious that this product is on a roughly linear downward trajectory. 2008 was the sherriest, meatiest, and heaviest. 2011 still had many similar things going on, but 2012 was already a deviation with very much reduced sherry sweetness and heavy herbal salts note on top of everything. Compared to the three older ones, the 2016 was a pitiable bottle of almost-new make with yeastiness that couldn't be found from the other ones. I scored the 2008 88 pts., the 2011 87, the 2012 86, and the 2016 84.

Strong & Sturdy
Ah, the Ardbeg with the almost unpronouncable name (‘oogedaal’), which means as much as ‘dark, mysterious place’. I tried versions from 2003 and 2009 and my whisky pal Pat just offered me a sample of 2015, which I gladly accept as it is one of my favorites from the Ardbeg core range (only the Corryvreckan does better in my book).
Grand nose on sweet elements from the sherry casks. Think banana and raisins, followed closely by furniture polish, herring on the barbecue and chunks of sea salt. Nuts! Mildly burnt chestnuts. The crust of old Gouda cheese. Sweet peat. Stockfish. Roast beef. Complex and better than I remembered.
Perfect mouthfeel, sweet and sour on smoked bacon with loads of ashes and citrusy elements. Liquorice, smoked fish, chili pepper, ginger, tar. Orange marmalade in the background. Grand. Strong. Sturdy.
The finish is very long, sweet and salty at the same time. A little bit schizophrenic towards the end, but what a feast.
If you ever taste a lesser Ardbeg (plenty of choices with the recent NAS-bottlings in recent years), pour yourself a dram of this Uigedail and your confidence will be restored. Around 60 EUR. Do it now!