Ardbeg Blaaack (2020 Committee Release)

The nose has peat and some salty notes. I can certainly detect the red fruit aromas from the wine, but they are not prominent. I perceive a blend of cherry or plum, along with red apple. The taste features a peaty, dry smoke, though not as intense as in some other Ardbeg bottlings. I often find a vegetal quality in Ardbeg, but it's difficult to pinpoint here; perhaps the fruity wine notes mask it. As it rests in the glass, I also detect a baked apple flavor, though it's not overly sweet. The finish presents notes of salt and pepper, and possibly pine needles or pine resin. I also get some gentler red fruit. It seems the wine's fruitiness moderates the Ardbeg somewhat, for better and worse. They complement each other... perhaps too well, considering this is a prominent Islay spirit. The finish is quite prolonged – a dry spicy smoke with waves of pepper... but some of that pepper might originate from the wine rather than just the spirit. If anything, this is smoother and considerably easier to drink than anticipated, which isn't necessarily a negative, but could be a risk to sobriety and finances. I enjoy this. I'm not certain I love it, especially given the price well over $100. Supernova is superior, and the cost difference isn't significant. I must say the pinot noir adds something interesting and distinct, and it actually works quite well, but it won't be remembered as a classic and celebrated combination. In fact, I'd suggest purchasing a few moderately priced bottles of pinot noir if you plan to invest in this, especially if you lack extensive prior wine experience. While I primarily drink whiskey, I've finished many bottles of pinot over the years, and I believe many of the intriguing aspects of this spirit would be missed by someone without a wine background. Actually, this makes me contemplate how Ardbeg might taste after aging in a very robust red cask. Perhaps that's the key to elevating such a project from good to exceptional. I poured a small measure of Uigeadail for comparison, and the peat is definitely subdued here compared to Uigeadail. I also don't really get the typical Ardbeg smoked meat notes, which are very prominent in Uigeadail. It's an outlier and it works, certainly, but I feel it compromises some of its identity to achieve an interesting, milder equilibrium.

This 2020 committee release is bottled at 50.7% One positive aspect of the COVID pandemic is that the usual collector who buys every Ardbeg Committee release immediately stayed home this year. For the first time, I've seen an Ardbeg CR on shelves at multiple stores for several days. This is genuinely one of the better Ardbeg releases. After opening my bottle, I even went to another shop to get a second one for a $20 markup. The remarkable quality of this spirit is how it brings back the distinct memory of seasoning my carbon steel wok with flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil is ideal for seasoning woks due to its high smoke point. At 350 degrees F, it vaporizes before burning, creating a nonstick surface. The evaporated oil is captured by my vent filter, re-condenses, and occasionally drips back down, forming droplets I can't resist smelling. I also recall the same aroma from visiting traditional flaxseed oil mills in the Netherlands, where it's known as lineseed in Europe. It's uncommon for a spirit to transport me to such a vivid memory, like experiencing teleportation and time travel. For this, Ardbeg Blaaack earns recognition and a star. It's surprising that no other Ardbeg has triggered a similar reaction; perhaps this is an emergent characteristic from combining the intense peat of Ardbeg with the delicate red wine of pinot noir. This spirit also presents strawberry and raspberry sweetness on the nose from the pinot noir cask finish. The palate, however, has very little fruitiness, as a powerful ashen smoke and soot dominate, accompanied by hints of burnt peanut, straw, and abundant black brine. What holds this spirit back from being truly spectacular is the price and the existence of Longrow Red Pinot Noir, a more affordable spirit that can still be found lingering on some store shelves. If you're seeking a pinot noir influence, the exceptionally juicy and fruity Longrow is the one to choose. Nevertheless, Ardbeg Blaaack offers a captivating and indeed dark experience. Score: * (unforgettably good) Cost per bottle: $140-160 My valuation: $140

Aroma: Distinctly Ardbeg. Deep, rich peat, smoke, phenol, and ash. Ocean spray, lemon and orange oil, mint and wintergreen. Plums, ripe peaches, strawberries, banana chips... The Pinot Noir cask imparts an excellent, deep character. Black pepper, cumin, chili powder. Cocoa. The image of a chocolate-dipped frozen banana came to mind. Vanilla and icing, with a hint of dry oak. Smoked glazed ham. After sitting, apple and apricot develop, along with some soft floral notes. Perhaps a touch of nutmeg in the background. Taste: Ash, bitter/sour oak, phenol, dark fruits, dark chocolate. Firm tannin. Earth, smoke - again, unmistakably Ardbeg, but with a twist. Excellent black pepper spice. Ground chipotle powder, cinnamon, ginger, banana. Tar, burnt rubber. Bacon. A tingling sensation. I also detect some of the smoky character from a good Pinot Noir. Medium-light mouthfeel, medium oil content. Finish: Ashy, earthy, tannic. Charred oak, burned sugar, vanilla, with a tingling sensation that follows the sip. White and black pepper appear, followed by a rush of minty Chloraseptic. Bitter lemon, more tannin, leather, Maduro tobacco, black olives, and iodine. It eventually shifts to a dry iodine and ash with bursts of phenol, anise, mint, and citrus. It compels further sipping. A very extended finish. Other thoughts: This is certainly not for everyone. While the aroma is quite inviting, the palate presents unexpectedly and offers a full journey. It's definitely on the challenging side. However, if you're willing to sit with it, pay close attention, and explore deeply, it offers a wealth of complexity. It commands your attention and holds it, and the finish makes you want to return.

This is a preliminary tasting before the official review. It's my second pour, and I'm figuring out my thoughts. Smell: youthful, pharmaceutical, lemon/lime, banana, and a whisper of red wine. Flavor: immature spirit. A jumble of vanilla, wood, salt, sea water, bananas, new barrels, tart red wine, followed by smooth sweetness, and a peppery end. Each time I consider this, I land on two points. First, it's incredibly young and it's noticeably detrimental. Second, the wine barrels used are quite good and offer some benefit. Ultimately, and I might revisit this if it evolves... this is a huge miss considering the cost. It's like Corryvreckan but with improved barrel work and perhaps slightly more time in the cask. Yes, I'm quite let down by this bottle. The spirit itself isn't awful, but I'm finding it hard to rate it above a 2.0. Given that others appreciate this, I'm eager to find merit, but I keep returning to these immature spirit characteristics, good wine casks but potentially inferior bourbon casks influencing them. My main question is whether the sharp spices and finishes come from intended casks or raw spirit that doesn't belong. I suspect it's the youth. 2.0 is a middle-of-the-road spirit that many will likely enjoy more than that score suggests, while others may find it outright unpleasant. Reducing it to 1.50, I've sampled it several times. It's bordering on awful. Definitely skip this one.

A peculiar aroma greets you, unusual for an Ardbeg: the full-bodied, briny peat is present but tempered by a strong sweet component. Red fruits, green apple, caramel, vanilla, and honey mingle with acrid, medicinal smoke, creating a curious interplay of scents. However, it's far from the tranquility of An Oa, for instance; the peat remains dominant, fiercely smoky and damp, yet it yields to unexpected sweet and fruity notes influenced by the pinot. The palate showcases the spirit's strength, with the alcohol content noticeable in the mouth, alongside a very salty, peaty intensity with a good peppery kick. Yet again, a sweet and comforting profile lies beneath the power of burnt wood, revealing deep caramel notes, reminiscent of sugared almonds, along with ripe fruit (plenty of cherries, then raspberries and peach) and honey. A background of Caribbean cigar tobacco is present. It's a constant interplay between the two characters, overlapping without truly merging, in an endless battle for dominance. In the end, the sweetness emerges victorious, quite long with pepper, smoked seaweed, sea salt, and burnt wood. The balance is delicate, the two distinct aspects of the spirit never seem to harmonize, but it's precisely this conflict that makes the drinking experience varied and engaging, a novel take on the Ardbeg theme that is delightful and intriguing, an imbalance that might be a flaw for some, but a bonus for me.

My father gave me this bottle for graduation, and it's quite special. The whiskey is thick and leaves oily streaks in my glass, with a pale gold appearance. It smells of sherry, fresh-cut grass, wood, ripe pears, and a signature peat smoke. While present, the smoke is surprisingly mellow and not overpowering, especially for an Ardbeg. On the palate, the smoke initially hides, then recedes, revealing notes of leather, dark fruit, and tannins. A faint medicinal or iodine note shifts into something like Dr Pepper or root beer, leading into a lengthy finish. The leather, vanilla, and tannins linger pleasingly. I'm a big fan of Islay whiskies that get a wine or port cask finish, so I really enjoy this. The fruit notes complement the smoky, leathery character that's typical of this profile. Those who prefer a stronger peat presence might find it unbalanced, but I'd happily take their bottles.