Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Edition
$194.99
Region:Scotland > Islay
Limit 1 per Ardbeg Committee Member (Join Here)
This is a more limited edition of the Ardbeg Kelpie, exclusively available from Ardbeg Embassies, and only to Ardbeg Committee Members. It is strictly limited to 1 per member! The Committee Edition, like the standard Kelpie release, has been matured in Russian Black Sea Oak. It has been bottled at 51.7%, rather than the 46% of the standard release.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: tarry, malty, medicinal and oily; smoked mussels, salted caramel and dark goats milk chocolate; muscavado sugars, seaweed salad and hotdogs boiled in a salty broth; some lovely creamed honey notes emerge on the nose after the first sip.
Palate: big, bold and brash; the tarry-medicinal Islay notes hit first, with the sweet chewy malt fast on its heels; honeyed and briny; fried kale, seaweed salad and dried kelp chips; more salted caramel, smoked mussels and more briny boiled hot dogs; there is orange, dark chocolate, rough leather and some firm tobacco too.
Finish: long, oily and drying; the leather, tobacco and chocolate fade first leaving the maritime, seaweed and orange notes to linger longest.
Comment: bigger and bolder than the standard release; this is an unapologetic Ileach, not for the faint of heart.
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Black olive tapenade, green tea, jasmine, lemons, peaches, pistachio nuts, beef jerky, Grana Padano cheese, bacon grease, salsa, roasted red peppers, parma violets, smoked pineapple, Fisherman's Friend lozenges and cinnamon sticks.
Palate: Big, peaty, ashy and peppery smoke, limes & salt, bubble gum, pistachio nuts again. Salt, salt, salt, saline, Weetabix cereal, salted caramels, peanuts and roasted almonds, cinnamon, and a bit of grassiness.
Finish: Smokey, salty and... Kelpie?
Comments: Kelpie plus. If you like the regular Kelpie release but want more amped up flavour and alcohol then this is for you.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: A wonderful, intense, ‘dancing’ nose, with lots of different, intertwined aromas – powerful, oily peat, dark chocolate, smoked fish, hints of seaweed, and a curious, sharp herbal note. Waves of spicy, black pepper. A splash of water brings forth some classic Ardbeg notes, such as creamy coffee, smoked fudge and pine resin. Even some hints of smoked coconut.
Palate: A peppery mouthfeel is followed by a crescendo of rich flavours. Treacle toffee, Turkish coffee, smoky bacon and lots of dark, dark chocolate. A curious burst of peachy, estery fruit, hickory wood, clove oil and a suggestion of black olives on the aftertaste.
Finish: Seemingly lasting forever, with deep, deep, almost subterranean flavours of clove, tar and rich toffee.