Ardbeg Eureka! Committee Release

Nose: Characteristic Ardbeg sweet citrus peat smoke, with grilled lemon and a salty, Mezcal-like smokiness. Earthy, vegetal, and light fruit notes (pineapple, gooseberry) appear with water. Palate: A sweet citrus and fresh root ginger initial taste. White grapes emerge during development, along with abundant twiggy bracken smoke. Later, the vegetal peat smoke and yellow berries noted on the nose become more prominent, especially when diluted. The texture is dense and syrupy rather than oily. Finish: Medium to Long. Woody smoke, ash, and briny vegetal notes. Classic Ardbeg sweet citrus in the aftertaste, accompanied by a maritime hint. A decent, yet somewhat unremarkable, Ardbeg. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, but it feels like just another non-age-statement whisky in their continually expanding lineup. While one can't dislike this style (Ardbeg consistently delivers at least 'good' quality), I would still prefer a bottle of the 10-year-old core expression, and frankly, several Laphroaig and Lagavulin options would be more appealing. Tasted from a complimentary sample at the distillery on April 17, 2025. Score: 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Nose: Berries, mango, gentle peat, slight salinity, a whisper of mint. The peat is more like a plant with a touch of smoke. Palate: A pleasing, syrupy consistency. The berry notes from the nose recede, allowing the plant-like peat and salty flavors to take center stage. Initial sweetness from berry, orange, and vanilla gives way to the peat. A brief taste of mint chocolate appears. The finish is earthy and salty, ending with a hint of ash. The empty glass offers scents of iodine and medical adhesive. Generally quite good; the nose and texture are its strongest points. This is a pleasant whiskey, but like many recent special editions, it doesn't quite measure up to the standard range. It's priced lower than Corryvreckan currently, but Corryvreckan is a significantly superior whiskey. Uigeadail is available locally for less, and it's also a much better whiskey. While I don't have the 10-year expression handy, I suspect it might be better and is considerably cheaper in this area. I'd rate it between 3.5 and 3.75.

Smoky, peaty aroma. Oily mouthfeel with smoke. Spicy, peaty finish.

Typical Ardbeg, nothing remarkable but it is tasty.

Very nice