Ardbeg 15 Year Chieftain's (Ian MacLeod)

Score: 22/23 Nose: I need to let this breathe a bit longer, but I'm picking up a hint of bourbon caramel and orange, which is interesting. There's also white pepper, a touch of black pepper, some herbal notes, and a faint leathery quality. The aroma seems mature and sophisticated. More herbal and spicy notes develop. Palate: This tastes like it has a higher proof than Ardbeg Ten, with more herbal dryness and clearer flavors. It's less sweet, but in a way, it resembles Ardbeg Ten amplified, or perhaps Ardbeg combined with a touch of Octomore. It might be less balanced, but it presents distinct flavors that stand out and work well together, making it less muddled. Ardbeg Ten wasn't particularly muddled, but this clarifies it further. The complexity increases with each sip, revealing notes of charcoal, apples, tar, and more. There's herbal peat, naturally, along with some chocolate, barrel spices leaning towards baking spices, and caramel. I'm detecting significant bourbon barrel influence. This is truly enjoyable. Ardbeg Arrrrrdbeg and Ardbeg Scorch seem young and uncomplicated by comparison. While generally dry, there's still a subtle sweetness. Notes of blackstrap molasses and very light maple mingle with bittersweet chocolate in the background. Each flavor stands out individually, unlike in recent Feis Isla releases. Ardbeg Corryvreckan is drier and more peppery, but less complex. I believe this is clearly superior. Ardbeg Uigeadail is sweeter and has more of an Oloroso character. While Uigeadail is less complex than Corryvreckan, it's more indulgent, making those two a worthy comparison. This expression feels like a harmonious blend of the best aspects of both. Time for the heavy hitters. I have Springbank 12 Cask Strength (rated 22) here. Based on a quick taste of each, I'm uncertain which is better. I'm placing this in the 21-23 range. Incredible! Yes, this definitely belongs in the 23 range. Comparing it directly with Glenfarclas 25 (rated 23), I'm not immediately sure which is preferable. This one feels fuller, likely due to a higher proof, but their profiles are quite different. It does make me ponder what a higher proof Glenfarclas 25 with a hint of peat might taste like... Finish: Rich, peaty, with some citrus fruit and apple. Vanilla, oak, and a touch of caramel. - Conclusion - I recall being underwhelmed by a previous Chieftain's bottling. Perhaps Ardbeg consistently delivers quality, but it seems I should reconsider Chieftain's. This is quite dry and peaty, though not as intense as Octomore. A recent sip of an random Octomore was overwhelmingly dry and peaty. This, in contrast, is far more balanced and engaging. While this is a potent scotch that might impact my palate, it doesn't reduce flavors to a single dimension. The key is that while Octomore is good in a somewhat novel or acquired taste manner, this offers superior balance, maturity, complexity, and accessibility (though I wouldn't exactly call it easy-drinking). If your sole desire is peat, choose Octomore. If you want abundant peat and an excellent dram, opt for this. If you're not a fan of intense peat and/or tar, steer clear. However, my assessment is that this is outstanding. This shows considerable maturity with excellent balance, preventing it from tasting too much like any single element. Revisiting this after trying several other Ardbegs, this is the first one to truly impress me, immediately signaling a score of at least 20. Ardbeg Corryvreckan could attempt to rival it, but I don't believe it possesses the same refinement. While not achieving absolute perfection, I'm considering it at least a 20, possibly a 22, and perhaps even within the realm of a 23. It's challenging for me to award a 23 to a peated scotch without a 22 for direct comparison; however, I do have the last drops of my highly aerated Ardbeg Corryvreckan, which I recently scored a 21. I'm quite confident this is the superior dram. It's somehow both richer and more intricate. The edges are a bit sharper here, yet there's still much nuance. I don't quite see it reaching the 23 mark, but it's exceptionally good. Side-by-side, Glenfarclas 25 appears more mature and sophisticated. However, this expression isn't far off. I'm genuinely surprised to find this superior to Ardbeg Traigh Bhan (rated 19/23). Traigh Bhan was excellent, and I may have underestimated it, but it certainly didn't reach this level. I could place this anywhere between 21 and 23. Realistically, it's probably not a 23. But it's at least a 21, as I'd choose it over this fantastic Corryvreckan. I'm undecided between a 21 and 22, but I'll lean towards a 22. Thinking back, I only vaguely recall having another Chieftain's bottling previously, and I wasn't impressed. I had dismissed them as a budget brand, but this sample significantly exceeded expectations. I suppose I should explore more Chieftain's bottlings. Many thanks to the individual who sent me a sample of this! My apologies for the delay in tasting it. It was a fantastic experience.

Straw-colored with slow-moving legs. I'm preparing to humble myself again, thanks to a friend. The nose is quite peaty, less smoky, with a slight medicinal phenol noticeable from a distance. Deeper in the glass, there's a layer of ash alongside malt and resin. The alcohol is present but not overwhelming; it actually adds some balance. Vanilla paste and oak furniture notes are detected. The fruit is hard to identify, resembling dried banana chips. It's hot and ashy on the palate, followed by astringent oak and walnut, with a burnt green pepper offering an earthy spice. In some ways, it's reminiscent of Mezcal but with added wood and vanilla paste instead of charred earth and vegetation. As I continue to explore it, the ash remains dominant. It has a rubber tire quality. I've decided to add water. That's quite a change – honey emerges, and the palate becomes slightly creamier. Perhaps there are notes of fried plantain cooked in oil past its smoking point. Overall, this is far more ash-heavy than the aroma suggested. To be honest, it feels a bit one-dimensional. I only encounter this level of ash with Lagavulin, but there's no real sweetness or meaty brine for balance. The phenol is there but not as strong as in Laphroaig. Could it be too young to have matured and mellowed? It's overwhelmingly vegetal. It's difficult to rate because it's unique, but it's not to my taste. I'll skip a rating for now, but it wouldn't be very high... Actually, I can't rate it above a 2.5-3. I'll settle on 2.75. Please tell me - Chieftans 15y single malt. Ardbeg. (I scratch my head). I suppose I understand now from my limited but enjoyable experience with a friend. This is just not nearly as sweet. The finish is persistent but unchanging. It also lacks some of the more resinous notes from the nose, though they become more apparent with a splash of water. Sadly, I'm still too unsophisticated for this dram. I prefer pumpkin spice over Ugg boot. Perhaps someday.

This is a bottle I have eagerly anticipated trying for months. It was an exclusive release that a relative brought and kept hidden at my parents' house for my visit in April. Then, the unforeseen pandemic disrupted my travel plans, and it remained hidden in a basement fireplace for months before I finally had the opportunity to retrieve it from a holiday gift bag, ready for me to sample. I approached this with high expectations, and as a devoted fan of Ardbeg, a great deal was expected. This is a single cask, 15-year-old Ardbeg at 58 percent alcohol by volume, but upon first smell, a strong wave of peat is apparent. This is complex; I detect salted caramel apple pie topped with rich vanilla ice cream, cinnamon, candied maple bacon, and the mouthfeel is the most viscous I have ever experienced. It makes Compass Box Tobias and Flaming Heart seem diluted in comparison, though they are not, such is the oiliness of this spirit. The finish endures for almost 20 minutes. An outstanding whiskey that was worth the wait.