Ardbeg Ardbog Review


“Beg and Bog but not really Big”

Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Ardbeg Ardbog
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS  
ABV: 52.1%

Colour: Dark Amber (Natural Colour). The Manzanilla casks have worked their magic!

Nose: Initially, the Alcohol is quite strong so please give the Ardbog sufficient time in the glass to calm down. The Manzanilla casks certainly add a different dimension to the Ardbeg Spirit. I find Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, light Briny Coastal Peat, light Campfire Smoke, light Soot and Tar, light Iodine, Rubber, light Gasoline, Wet Sand, Dirt Road and light Ashes. When I say light I mean light when compared to other Ardbegs I have tasted. Besides these classic Aromas I also pick up Treacle, Charred Oak, Plum Jam, Citrus, Apple, Smoked Meat, Balsamic Vinegar, Sugared Tea, Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon, Pepper and Salt. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. I liked the experiment as such but on the Nose the Ardbog isn't quite as convincing as some personal favourites like Supernova or Uigeadail. Still, it's not bad either. After a while in the Glass I find a little hint of Cooked Vegetables that might hint at some Sulphur. It's nothing significant though.

Palate: A little Thinner than expected given the high ABV. There's still a Young and Edgy feel to the Ardbog although the Manzanilla Casks try to hide this fact. On the Palate, the Ardbog is quite Salty, Spicy, Nutty and Bitter-Sweet. I find Sweet Barley, Treacle, Toffee, Caramel, Dark Red Fruit, Grapefruit - and Orange Juice, Lemon, Apple, Dried Fruit, Almonds, Smoked Meat, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Soot, Tar, Cigar Ashes, Rubber, light Iodine, Charred Oak, Pepper, Salt, Dried Herbs, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Aniseed and Licorice.       

Finish: Quite Long, Salty, Spicy, Bitter-Sweet and Herbal. Dry towards the end. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Treacle, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Soot, Tar, Cigar Ashes, Lemon, Apple, Charred Oak, Almonds, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, Smoked Ham or Bacon, Smoked Paprika, Pepper, Salt, Cardamom and quite some Licorice.

I added a little Water and the Nose becomes Sweeter and more Herbal. Palate and Finish do not improve. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 – Finish: 21.5 – Overall: 21.5


General Remarks: The Ardbog is a Limited Edition that was launched in June 2013 during the Feis Ile Festival. It was especially produced for Ardbog Day (June 1st, 2013) and celebrates the very imported peat bogs on the island of Islay. It is basically a 10 Year Old Ardbeg that matured in Ex-Bourbon Casks and was vatted with some Ardbeg that matured in Ex-Manzanilla Sherry Casks. It was bottled on or near Cask Strength and without Chill-Filtration. Prices vary a lot from place to place but are usually in the 140/250 US Dollar range (February 2016). That's quite expensive for a 10 Year old Malt.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I'm not quite sure what to do with this Ardbog. On the one hand, it's much better than a lot of stuff that appears on the market these days. But on the other hand it is a young Ardbeg although the Manzanilla casks do their best to hide that from us. And as a young Ardbeg it's certainly overpriced when compared to the 10 and the Uigeadail. I also believe that the name is slightly misleading as you would expect the Ardbog to be a Smoky Peat Monster while in fact it's not. Saltbog or Chilibog would have been much more accurate as these Aromas and Flavours are quite present as is the Licorice. But I have to admit that Ardbog is a much nicer and more commercial name. If I sum it all up, I find it quite interesting to see what the Manzanilla casks do with the relatively young Ardbeg Spirit. The Ardbog is a good Single Malt but not great like the Uigeadail or the Supernova. And for sure too expensive!

Jan van den Ende                                                               February 25, 2016

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