“Ardbeg Christmas Day”
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Ardbeg Day 2012
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
ABV: 56.7%
Chill-Filtration: No
Whisky Review # 582
Buying Advice: 😔 It's a good Single Malt but there are better and less expensive alternatives in the Ardbeg portfolio.
Colour: Golden Straw (Natural Colour)
Palate: Relatively Young, quite Fiery, Oily and a little Hot. I find Earthy Peat, Campfire Smoke, Tar, Soot, Ashes, Rubber, Brine, Iodine, Gasoline, Leather, Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Caramel, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Mandarin, Lime, Oak, light Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Licorice, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, Christmas Spices, Aniseed, Menthol, Straw, Black Espresso, Apple Juice and a hint of Chocolate.
Finish: Middle-Long with Dirty Earth, Campfire Smoke, Brine, Cigar Ashes, Soot, Tar, Wet Sand, Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Caramel, Gasoline, Rubber, Oak Char, Licorice, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Aniseed, Salt, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Menthol, Black Espresso, Apple Flavoured Candies, light Vanilla, Lime and a hint of Chocolate.
Chill-Filtration: No
Whisky Review # 582
Buying Advice: 😔 It's a good Single Malt but there are better and less expensive alternatives in the Ardbeg portfolio.
Colour: Golden Straw (Natural Colour)
Nose: Young, slightly Rough, Peaty, Mineral, Lemony and Ashy. The Ex-Sherry Cask Finish is there but it's hardly noticeable. I find Wet Earth, light Campfire Smoke, Soot, Tar, Rubber, Wet Sand, Brine, Iodine, Diesel, Toasted Cereals, lightly Burnt Toast, light Vanilla, Straw mixed with Cow Manure, light Leather, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Dusty Road, Lemon, Mandarin, Salted Nuts, Sugared Tea, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and a hint of Banana/Muesli/Chocolate Bars. On the Nose, the Ardbeg Day has some elements from the 10, the Ardbog and the Uigeadail but it can't outshine any of those. I especially miss the Fruity tones. At the most I get some slightly Sour Apples. The Day is better though than the Perpetuum I tasted recently.
Palate: Relatively Young, quite Fiery, Oily and a little Hot. I find Earthy Peat, Campfire Smoke, Tar, Soot, Ashes, Rubber, Brine, Iodine, Gasoline, Leather, Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Caramel, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Mandarin, Lime, Oak, light Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Licorice, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, Christmas Spices, Aniseed, Menthol, Straw, Black Espresso, Apple Juice and a hint of Chocolate.
Finish: Middle-Long with Dirty Earth, Campfire Smoke, Brine, Cigar Ashes, Soot, Tar, Wet Sand, Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Caramel, Gasoline, Rubber, Oak Char, Licorice, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Aniseed, Salt, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Menthol, Black Espresso, Apple Flavoured Candies, light Vanilla, Lime and a hint of Chocolate.
The Ardbeg Day accepts a little Water without any problems thanks to the more than adequate ABV. On the Nose, the Peat, Smoke and Tar retreat and Mineral - and Citrus Aromas become more noticeable. The Finish becomes too Short but on the Palate you will get more Fruity Aromas like Apple and Pineapple. You can certainly play with a little water here!
Rating: 85.5
Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5
General Remarks: This Ardbeg Day was bottled at Cask Strength in February 2012 and released later that year as a Committee Bottling during the end of May/begin of June 2012 Islay Festival (Feis Ile). Two, 8-12 Year Old, Vintage Ardbeg Single Malts were used for this Ardbeg Day. They matured in Ex-Bourbon casks, were married and finished for around six months in Refill Ex-Sherry Casks that were earlier used to mature Uigeadail. Around 12.000 bottles went to the market. Initially the price amounted to around 90 US Dollars but at the moment the price on auctions is more likely to be slightly over 300 US Dollars (December 2016).
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: If you like young peaty Ardbeg Whisky you can't go wrong with the Ardbeg Day 2012. The Peat, Smoke, Soot, Tar, Iodine, Brine and Rubber Aromas and Flavours can't be missed and are straight to the point. But if you are looking for a little more substance, subtlety and balance, this will not be your favourite Ardbeg. Personally I prefer the Uigeadail, the Supernova and even the Ardbog over this Day. Does that mean the Day 2012 is a bad Single Malt? Certainly not! But it's a bit straight forward and without the details and subtleties that create a truly great whisky. And it's way too expensive of course but so are most of Ardbeg's limited editions!
Jan van den Ende December 19, 2016
