Ardbeg 8yo For Discussion (Ardbeg Committee Release) - Whisky Review 58

[@welshtoro3256]

A very fine review. I've just had my first few sips and I'm pretty much in agreement with your notes and the larger issue of this expression and Ardbeg. I would say that the 50.8% abv does not really make itself known and is, therefore, not advantageous over the 10. That touch of sherry is certainly there though. I suspect Ardbeg think the sherry and abv can justify the rather hefty price increase over the 10 which remains the barometer of Ardbeg value. With postage from the distillery this little baby clocked in at £73. That's Corryvreckan (NAS) price range. Yep, the sherry is certainly very noticeable. Most Ardbeg folk love the 10 because of the classic ex-bourbon profile. These bottles with sherry can not be compared with the 10. I agree with you, this is swinging between Wee Beastie and the Ugi but at least this is at least eight years old. The last Ugi I had tasted a lot younger and that NAS profile has changed considerably over the years. I've just compared it to the recent Laphroaig 10 Sherry bottled at 48% and what I'm getting is how sherry and peat is nice but it destroys distillery character. The peat is just a generalised smoke with fruit cake in the mix. In blind tastings I think this kind of stuff is indistinguishable with other distilleries. A nice dram but only three years older than Wee Beastie and £10 extra for each year. It's a far more sophisticated Wee Beastie. If you like a bit of rough in your Islay you might still prefer the Ugi. Wow, it has sparked a discussion. Cheers. WT

[@WhiskyLock]

Thanks WT! I agree that the extra ABV probably compensates for the loss of 2yrs. Probably a wise and calculated decision by Ardbeg. I'm absolutely all for the bourbon presentation of the 10yo. I do hope there will be some more unsherried Ardbegs in the near future. It does mask a lot of character as you say. As for the Uigeadail, I actually thought that my last bottle was slightly better than 5yrs ago. But nothing compared to those lovely old originals 🙂 Cheers!

[@whiskyguidedog6558]

Your experience really captures mine with the maltyness , etc. Superb review or a brilliant whisky from the most advanced whiskytube reviewer.

[@WhiskyLock]

Thank you very much!

[@krishnar3493]

Excellent discussion, WL. Great contribution. In spite of some sherry influence, it doesn’t press as hard as Uigeadail. This is a crisp, clean and a delicate Ardbeg.

[@WhiskyLock]

Hi Krishna. Agreed! I've actually dug this one out again and been drinking it over the last week and I do enjoy it. A welcome twist on the Ardbeg style.

[@johnw1597]

Fantastic review! many thanks. I have a bottle of this in my collection currently as I was lucky to get in there early doors. Very much looking forward to cracking it open now! Cheers!

[@WhiskyLock]

It's a good one John! I personally like when Ardbeg release something a little bit more straight forward like this. No gimmicks. Hope you enjoy it as much as I am! Cheers!

[@ARad-ul7kd]

Really good review. I can't tell you how welcome whisky reviews are when the person doing the review has a simple but in depth way of describing the spirit. I am a fan now mate. Keep them coming.

[@WhiskyLock]

Thanks! When you start reviewing on KZbin you really realise how difficult it is to make tasting notes that are comprehensive but still relatable to other people's palates 🙂 glad you find it useful.

[@WhiskyWars]

Interesting, not seen a review of this whisky and a really nice in depth review, cheers!

[@WhiskyLock]

Thanks! I expect there'll be lots more 'discussion' once more people get around to trying theirs. I think it's a really great whisky but the problem with any Ardbeg is that the 10yo is just such a tough act to follow. Cheers!

[@jasonkeating9958]

At the recent Ardbeg online live on KZbin people were asking for a cask strength with age statement and that got their backs up so maybe a 10 cask strength maybe like glenallachie 10CS

[@WhiskyLock]

That's very interesting. I didn't catch that livestream. On the one hand I think it's a shame that we don't get that many age statements from Ardbeg... but on the other hand all the recent age statements that they have given us (Twenty One and Traigh Bhan) have been wildly overpriced and IMHO not as good as the older stock they were putting out 20yrs ago. The style of Ardbeg has changed quite a bit over the last few decades and I think it's now a spirit that works best at 5-10yrs. Or maybe older if left in refill casks. I would be more than happy with an Ardbeg 10CS. I'd be happier still to see age statements (of almost any kind) added to Uigeadail and Corryvreckan.

[@langtoun8235]

Another great in depth review and agree with you that the 10 is a tough act to follow, great quality for the price. With the 8 Committee release I think it compares pretty favourably with the 10 as it’s a cask strength product, if they were both 46 ABV I feel there would likely be a noticeable difference, with the 10 being the superior product. Still, will the considerable drop in sales of some blends over the last couple of years this and the Wee Beastie are sure helping to shift some of that younger Ardbeg that might otherwise go into blends.

[@WhiskyLock]

Thanks! I think Ardbeg 10 has to be the absolute best standard bottling from any distillery. And great value as you say. I think you're right that if they were both 46% then the Ardbeg 8 would seem a little less powerful compared to the 10. It's also a bit unfair to compare something as widely available as the 10yo to a very limited release which was surely created from some hand picked and high quality casks. It's very difficult to guess what Ardbeg have planned at the moment. With the recent expansion and reappearance of some age statements, both old and young, they are at a pivotal point. I welcome these young age statements though and I'd love to see some really young and punchy Ardbeg that isn't being sanitised by sweet sherry casks. But honestly they can do what they want as long as they leave the 10 alone 🙂

[@TheBeardedDane]

We cant get that here... Nice review ! You hav a new subscriber :)

[@WhiskyLock]

Welcome aboard! 🙂

[@TheBeardedDane]

@@WhiskyLock We Whisky Tubers have to support each other :)