Ardbeg Uigeadail 2012 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Islay

Brand: Ardbeg Uigeadail (Bottled 2012)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 54.2 %

Colour: Amber

Nose: Give the Uigeadail sufficient time in the glass. At first I get loads of Earthy Juicy Peat accompanied by Smoked Meat, Bacon, Fish-Oil, Tar, Leather, Rum-Soaked Fruit Cake, Pepper and Salt. But be patient because this Ardbeg has more to offer. After a while I find Raisins, Espresso, Chocolate/Cocoa, Toffee, Caramel, Brown Sugar, a little Sherry, Malt and Cigar Ashes. The ABV is a bit too high perhaps and the Alcohol is not completely integrated. But other than that the Uigeadail is nicely balanced and comfortable on the Nose.      

Palate: Juicy Peat, Creamy Barley, BBQ Smoke, Tar, Leather, Oak, Sweet Dark Fruits, Honey, Bacon, light Medicinal tones, Pepper, Cinnamon, Lemon, Sherry and a hint of Chocolate. This is Ardbeg at its best!

Finish: Very Long, Sweet at first but Dry later on. Juicy Peat, Earth, Caramel, Sweet Barley, Brown Sugar, Espresso, light Licorice, Cigar Ashes, White Pepper, BBQ Smoke and Toast with a nice slice of Bacon.

With a bit of Water the Nose gets more Honey and Dark Fruits (Prunes). Honey and Sweet Peat are reinforced on the palate but the Finish becomes shorter and not quite that expressive. Better sip the Uigeadail neat!

Rating: 92.5

Nose: 23 - Taste: 23.5 - Finish: 23 - Overall: 23

General Remarks: The Ardbeg (Little Height in Gaelic) Distillery is located on the South Coast of the Isle of Islay. The Distillery was founded in 1794 and commercial production started in 1815. It was closed between 1981 and 1989 after which it produced on a low scale until 1997 when it was bought by Glenmorangie Plc, part of the French LVMH Group. The Uigeadail takes it name from the loch that provides the Distillery with the peated Water. Uigeadail means Dark and Mysterious Place in Gaelic. It matures in a mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and Ex-Sherry Butts and is married before bottling.The whisky is not Chill-Filtered and (in this case) bottled at Cask Strength in November 2012. It costs around 90 US Dollars, an excellent Price/Quality ratio.

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good/Excellent  

Conclusion: Ardbeg is certainly one of my favourite distilleries. Both the 10 Years and the Supernova 2010 are charted high in my Top 20 so far. But the Uigeadail seems to take the best of those two whiskies and add even more complexity and balance. Coastal, Floral and Fruity tones are in near perfect harmony. And despite its complexity it remains utterly drinkable as well! This could have scored even higher if the Uigeadail had been bottled at a slightly lower ABV. I think that anything between 46 and 50% would have been sufficient. Of course you can add a little Water but I'm not a great fan of that. Because in doing so you might make it easier to appreciate the Uigeadail but at the same time you alter the Spirit. I prefer to judge the whisky the way it is presented by the makers. But all in all this is a great Single Malt and it goes right to the # 1 spot in the Complete Ranking so far. What a great way to start 2014!

Ardbeg Uigeadail 2017

In the beginning of 2018 I had the chance to taste a dram of an Uigeadail that was bottled in 2017. For sure this expression has changed. It's less complex and shows more Peat and Spices. The Finish is a lot shorter than it was before. It's still a nice Whisky but the magic is gone. I would assume that the lack of good Bourbon and Sherry casks has hit the Uigeadail as well. Based on the sample I would rate the 2017 expression as follows:

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 22

Jan van den Ende                                                                      January 1, 2014

 

I would like to wish all my readers and Whisky Friends a very Happy, Healthy, Meaningful and Caring 2014.

May All Your Drams Come Through!

Isle of Skye Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Isle of Skye

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Date: 29/12/2013

Colour: Medium Amber  

Nose: Young, lightly Floral but a bit Edgy. The Grain Whiskies are way too dominant. I can't identify Talisker and I think I should in a Blend called Isle of Skye! I find Grain, Lemon, Oak, light Pepper, light Smoke, Raisins, Honey, Straw, Heather, Malt and Custard. Certainly Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks. The Alcohol is very present.

Palate: The delivery is a bit Thin. Sharp Young Grain Whisky, light Smoke, Pepper, slightly Bitter Oak, Straw, Sweet Barley, Honey and Lemon. 

Finish: Middle-Long, Sweet, Fiery and Spicy with Custard, Sugar, Honey, Black Pepper, slightly Bitter Oak and some Nut Shells. 

No Need to add Water to the Isle of Skye although you get a bit more Fruit (Apricot) on the Nose.

Rating: 78.5

Nose: 19 – Taste: 20.5 – Finish: 19.5 – Overall: 19.5

General Remarks: The Isle of Skye Blended Whisky was created by Ian MacLeod more than 100 years. Today it is elaborated, blended and bottled by Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd, an Independent Bottler established in 1934 and a.o. owner of the Glengoyne Distillery and various other Blends such as Smokehead. Many people will know their Chieftain's range as well. The Isle of Skye is also part of a small collection known as MacLeod's Scotch Whisky Trail that also includes a Single Malt from Lowland, Speyside, Highland, Islands and Islay. The Isle of Skye contains Single Malts from Skye (Talisker), the Isles and Speyside as well as Grain Whiskies. It is said to mature mainly in Ex-Bourbon casks and the Blend is married in Oak for an additional 6 months before bottling. This Blend is not expensive at around 30 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion: Jim Murray and also Ralfy were really enthusiastic about this Blend but I just can't see where they are coming from. Unless they really like young Grain Whiskies. Which I don't! Sure, the price/quality ratio of this Blend is good. Isle of Skye is better than JW Red when sipping it neat. But is that a good reference? In my opinion the Isle of Skye is quite drinkable but it lacks Depth, interesting Aromas, Flavours and a sufficient amount of Talisker. Perhaps it shouldn't be called Isle of Skye! It smells and tastes much more like Grain Whisky with some Speyside Malt and a hint of the Islands.

Jan van den Ende                                                      December 2013

Highland Park Svein Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland-Island-Orkney

Brand: Highland Park Svein

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 40% 

Colour: Yellow Gold

Nose: Very light. Not unpleasant but little expressive. Floral tones (Heather, Honey, Pine Needles), Red Fruit, Citrus Fruit (Orange, Lemon and Grapefruit), Young Oak, Straw, Nuts, Dried Fruits (Raisins and Apricot), light Pepper, Malt, light Mint and soft Peat/Smoke. The Alcohol is not yet fully integrated.

Palate: Again on the light side. I get Young and slightly Bitter Oak, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Sweet Barley, Pencil Shavings, Honey, Dried Fruits (Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots), Orange Peel, Mandarins, Lemon, Grapefruit and very distant Smoke.

Finish: Rather Short and mainly Dry with slightly Bitter Oak, Malt, Dried Fruits, light Pepper, Sour Grapefruit, Gooseberry and a touch of Honey.

I added a bit of Water and Red Fruit, Citrus and Wax become stronger on the Nose. Palate and Finish become too Watery though. 

Rating: 81.5

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: Highland Park was founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson and is the most northerly distillery in Scotland, It is located on the Orkney Isles, off the North-East coast of Scotland. Highland Park is one the very few remaining distilleries that malts (at least part of) the Barley on its own malting floor. The distillery uses local Orcadian Peat, that mostly consists of Heather and other Plants. Only a limited amount of the Malt is dried with Peat though. Highland Park is owned by the Edrington Group. In 2008 the very nice Visitor Centre was upgraded.

Together with Einar, Harald, Sigurd, Ragnvald and Thorfinn, the Highland Park Svein is part of the Warrior Series, released in 2013, initially via Travel Retail. All six are named after Viking warriors with the idea to match the whisky with the characteristics of the warrior in question. Svein is the ultimate Viking War Chief and his exploits lie at the heart of the History of the Earls of Orkney. Svein was generous and loved adventure. The Svein is not very expensive at around 55 US Dollars and matured in American Oak (90%) and European Oak (10%). One third of the casks used is first fill.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: Svein was said to be generous and adventurous. This Single Malt is

certainly not adventurous. More mainstream ABBA than Warrior Svein! It's pretty standard young Highland Park actually. And as it's a young spirit it can hardly be too generous as well. It's similar to the 12 Years but not quite as good. It's not very expensive but there are better options in this price range. So I wonder if Svein will stay with us for a long time. Let's wait and see. In the meantime I'm looking forward to test Harald in 2014!

Jan van den Ende                                                                  December 27, 2013