Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990

An aged Ardbeg is hard to come by, and finding a specific limited bottling from 15 years ago makes the task even more challenging. This is the Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist, a highly limited release, known as "The Beist," which translates from Gaelic to "The Shelter of The Beast." Bottled at 46% ABV, this is a 1990 vintage, released in 2008. The nose is incredible, with tropical aromas, hints of socks, pineapple, cigarette ash, and milk chocolate. After the initial taste, it becomes even more tropical with notes of grated coconut. The palate is perfect, featuring white chocolate with red chili - a striking combination. It's salty and sweet, with pineapple. Absolutely spectacular. The finish is deliciously smoky, with aromatic peat and burnt hay. Fantastic, with a sugary and smoky profile. Overall, this is one of the most elegant, tropical, and easily drinkable yet peaty drams. It perfectly embodies a "rounded whisky." I believe this exceptionally expensive single malt, now costing around $700, will be a spirit I recall for a long time. The Beast has been successfully tamed for full enjoyment. My rating is 97 out of 100.

Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 16 Year Old 1990 A potent Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky aged in former bourbon barrels. The foreboding name 'Airigh Nam Beist' means 'Shelter of the Beast' in Scotch Gaelic. Ardbeg likens this to "Ardbeg Ice Cream". It starts with a bold and strong opening, featuring tastes of deep peat, creosote, and burnt rubber, finishing with sea spray; a rich and sweet middle brings in tastes of grain, aged wood, fresh foliage, milk chocolate, dark almonds, vanilla, caramel, walnuts, rich cream, and heavy smoke; culminating in a strong and slick finish with tastes of cream, smoke, subtle medicinal notes, salt, and lemon. December 2018 / January / March 2019 / August 2022

Overall: A creamy spirit, sweet, smoky, with citrus notes. Superb whisky and a top choice of mine, among the best scotch bottles I've ever owned. If Corryvreckan is a rockstar, this is like a comforting hug from a grandparent (24). Color: Medium gold Nose: Lime zest and cream, vanilla, peat, malt, detergent, a herbal note, salted marshmallows. A drop of water enhances the fruity qualities (24) Body: Medium to full, oily Taste: Zesty peat, gentle warmth, limes, a subtle hint of vanilla, light puffs of smoke and soot, complex (24) Finish: Medium to long, smooth vanilla, smoke returns (23) Score: 95

This spirit offers Ardbeg's signature smoke, salt, and sweet characteristics separately. It serves as an interesting guide to Ardbeg's flavor profile. However, the sweet notes prevail, highlighting the superb balance found in the current Ardbeg lineup. Still, it was definitely worth the $14 spent for a 2cl sample at Chami Bar in Davos.

The aroma presents a touch of salt alongside sugary notes, mellow peat, smoke, and citrus. The palate is characterized by sweet peat and a more potent alcohol presence, with hints of vanilla and an oily texture. The finish is enduring, maintaining its sweetness and smoky character. In sum, a truly enjoyable Ardbeg that embodies the distillery's signature style while offering a distinctive sweet and oily dimension.

Sampled at WhiskyFest San Francisco 2017, during an Ardbeg seminar The finest whisky of the evening at WhiskyFest Well-balanced, intricate Unfortunately, it is not easily obtainable