Review #21: Ardbeg Uigeadail
The Ardbeg Uigeadail aka “The Oogie” was originally recommended to us by an acquaintance as a peat-fiend pleaser, and the OP delivered. Honestly, even for a peat lover like myself, on some nights, it’s just too peaty (heresy, I know!). It is strong and secure in its own peatiness, which is a spectacular treat sometimes (when you want that peat punch to the throat) but sometimes you want something a little gentler. I think in recent bottlings, the sherry gets a bit overwhelmed by the peaty-ness (perhaps more reliance on the bourbon casks) so it can get unbalanced.
However, it’s a very fun dram – and for ~$60/bottle, a pretty good value.
Ardbeg Uigeadail
- - 7/107/10
Overall
Tasting Notes
Nose: Lovely. Strong and unmistakably peaty. Adhesive mixed with caramel. Ocean-side campfire. Some laundry detergent. Faint perfume of cream develop beneath the heat.
Palate: Deep and strong bass note of strong iodine and rubber. Does not pull its punch. Mid notes of caramel and dark fruits with sardines, interlaced with a lot of adhesive. Creamy mouthfeel. Chalky and ashy aftertaste. Somewhat hot.
Note: the dram develops quite significantly when resting in the glass. At first, it’s overwhelmingly peaty but after sitting in the glass for 5-10 minutes, it softens and a faint peat-meets-sweet starts developing. But overall, it’s still very peat-forward.
With water (given its high proof): Rubbery and sweet peeks at raisins and caramel followed by more salty sea ashes. First hit of sweet vanilla and caramel with some more sardines and then an ashy aftertaste.
Overview
TLDR: “Peaty Bear Hug.” Overview: Does not pull its peaty punch. Kind of unrestrained in its enthusiasm. Not for the weak.
Bought for: $57 at K&L
Quick overview of our scoring system
Additional Information
- Cask: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry
- Age: NAS
- ABV: 54.2%
- Labeled as 04/08/2016
About Ardbeg and Uigeadail:
- Ardbeg has produced whisky since 1798 and for most of its history, was primarily used for blends
- Its name, although cute, is actually quite boring: it is the Gaelic word for a “small promontory” (defined as a point of high land that juts out onto a large body of water)
- Releases Committee bottlings available for the members of the Ardbeg Committee that are released before official bottlings
- Uigeadail (“Oog-a-dal”) is a loch that provides the peat-laden water for Ardbeg