Ardbeg Dark Cove

Overall rating
86.41/100
votes
875
Whiskybase ID
WB81438
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Limited Edition
Bottled
11.02.2016
Casktype
Dark Sherry and Bourbon Casks
Strength
46.5 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 700 ml 700 ml 750 ml
Bottle code
L64711
Barcode
5010494931969
Bottled for
Ardbeg Day 2016
Added on
23 apr 2016 11:18 am by ted.striker
UncoloredNon-chillfiltered
Overall rating
86.41/100
votes
875

Average value

€ 592.68

Whisky reviews for Ardbeg Dark Cove

125 users have left 133 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 86.41 points.

Read the reviews
  1. hs305 scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    [March, 2017]  Why not compare this release against its predecessor Perpetuum (WB id 68370) and successor Kelpie (WB id 86163)?

    I never ever thought (when Perpetuum was released) that Perpetuum will win against its successors as I (like many others) had the impression this was the weakest Ardbeg Day edition so far. But now I must confess: This was the best (to my liking) in three years. Oh, oh Ardbeg - where are you heading to...
    • Nose
      82 82
      The colour of the Perpetuum is clearly the most pale of the three, while Dark Cove (nomen est omen) is the darkest. Kelpie is closer to Perpetuum than to Dark Cove, maybe just one or two shades darker. While Perpetuum has the most Ardbeg trademark nose (surprisingly) Dark Cove is rather shy but much sweeter (due to the dark sherry casks) and Kelpie offers some strange aromas on eucalyptus and camphor (that remind me a little bit of a cough medicine and disinfectant solution). Interestingly I find the Perpetuum best and the Kelpie by far the weakest in this head-to-head.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Perpetuum is based all around sweet and peaty flavours that are not too complex, but somehow balanced. Dark Cove is due to the sherry casks much sweeter, the peat is more in the background. Again it is a little bit hot and peppery. Kelpie is all about this strange eucalyptus/menthol flavour (maybe they should have named it "Koala" instead) - if you love this, than it is probably very interesting (Helmut Schmidt, the former German chancellor, who smoked menthol cigarettes only would like this, probably). But I do not, I hate menthol as it reminds me of bitter medicine... You guess my rating for this round now, don't you?
    • Finish
      81 81
      Perpetuum arrives big and mouth-coating on the palate while Dark Cove is quite sweet, but a little bit hot at the first sip. Kelpie is a little bit hot and peppery too and not as mouth-coating as the Perpetuum. Again Perpetuum wins this round closely followed by Dark Cove. Kelpie is not impressive. The Perpetuum finish is very clean and long, typically Ardbeggian. Dark Cove has a quite long but very sweet finish that is somehow more one-dimensional than the Perpetuum. And the Kelpie: The finish gets dry and bitter (due to the heavy tannins of the virgin oak), I do not like such a profile. It is significantly shorter than the other two as well, so again: Perpetuum first, Dark Cove second, Kelpie last...

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