Ardbeg Grooves (2018 Committee Release)

51.6% ABV; No Age Statement; Non-chill filtered. Nose: Impressive. A lot is going on here. The classic deep, earthy peat and smoke blend harmoniously with a variety of ripe, bright fruits. I'm detecting melon, pineapple, pears, and apples. The aroma is a pure delight. Palate: Don't be misled by the aroma! Ardbeg Grooves delivers a powerful wave of campfire smoke with its full, viscous texture. As it unfolds, subtle spice notes (nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and others) and vanilla, along with tropical and orchard fruits, make their presence felt, but in a balanced way. The wine cask influence is most apparent here, but it doesn't dominate. Phew. Finish: Long and robust. The earthy, ashy Ardbeg smoke lingers intensely on the palate, similar to Corryvrecken or Laphroaig Triple Wood. This might be its only drawback, depending on your preference. However, floral and fruit notes still emerge through the smoke, offering a juicy, almost citrus-sweet meringue flavor dusted with powdered sugar. It lasts a very long time. Adding a dash or two of water slightly reduces the smoke and allows the full spectrum of fruit and spice flavors to become more prominent. This is an outstanding dram from Ardbeg. As this is my first committee release, I cannot compare it to others. I've come a long way in just a year, haven't I? So I'll leave comparisons to the experienced enthusiasts. I purchased this bottle for $119 in Vienna, VA, a few days after its release. Thanks to for the helpful guidance. 4.5/5 Start your search, everyone.

** Disclaimer: This tasting note is what I'd call a "Quick Hit" – meaning it won't feature my typical in-depth observations. The reason: this sample was served at Whiskyfest DC on 4/17/18. All these reviews will be unrated, and I'm actively planning to revisit them to provide more thorough feedback. Ah, the Ardbeg Grooves Committee Edition. I've had quite a journey trying to find this bottle across Virginia while dealing with illness, a friend and I exchanged it back and forth in NJ, I had another friend search for it in Detroit, while also playfully chiding another for not getting more bottles when he found his (though he did assist me just before Whiskyfest, much appreciated). Well, they had it during the Ardbeg seminar, so I finally got to taste it. Did it meet the expectations built up by the chase? No. It's Ardbeg, so it's still very good. I must admit, though, this was the final dram I had at the event, so by then my palate was exhausted, and my tongue felt like it had been severely burned. A friend mentioned picking up on berry and wine cask notes, but I didn't necessarily detect those. I got the usual Ardbeg characteristics like smoked meats and bacon, along with some added sweetness. Fortunately, I managed to find two more bottles on my drive home, so I have plenty of liquid to properly explore it soon. I anticipate it will end up being another highly-rated dram. Cheers.

So, I finally opened a bottle for my experimental blending project. I decided it deserved a proper evaluation. For those who might recall my quick review from Whiskyfest DC in 2018, here's my updated take: This is a very good whisky. After sampling this with a friend during the Ardbeg seminar at the event, I was so overwhelmed by the various drams that I completely missed the subtleties of this one. The wine cask influence is noticeable, though brief, preceding the intense smoke and high alcohol burn. The wine cask finish also imparts some color in the tasting glass and offers a pleasant, fleeting hit of grape and berry. It's fleeting, so you must pay attention, but then the rich, smoky Ardbeg character takes over and dispels the sweetness. The finish is fiery, as expected from a Committee bottling, but the Ardbeg essence persists, leaving you pleased with the purchase. As it stands, it's a 4 to 4.25-star dram, and Ardbeg enthusiasts should look for a bottle while they are still available, perhaps gathering dust in some small liquor stores nationwide. It's excellent and lives up to the CE designation. Cheers.

I had a serving of this last night, provided by my finance associate during our end-of-Q1 portfolio review. How is it that the market advanced, yet she managed to keep my portfolio trailing the indices? Merely for that, she should have procured the entire bottle for me. But, I'm getting sidetracked. This is, in simple terms—incredible. It's profoundly intense, as if one plunged into a heap of ash. If you appreciate smoke and peat, this makes the Ardbeg 10 seem like a light brush compared to an passionate French kiss with considerable involvement. The aroma is alluringly intense, like a large container of tar and soot. Topped with a layer of salt. The taste is equally intense. Soot and bonfires. A bitter sweetness emerges much later, presumably as a required element from the wine finishing. Children, this is not for the timid. My finance associate took a sip of mine, and nearly gagged. She needed something to wash it down with her white wine. Her precise words were "Jesus, it's like licking a burnt piece of wood, then having a sweet cherry." The only thing even more enticing she could possibly have said is "congratulations, your portfolio returned 500% this quarter!"

Wow! Another superb dram from my preferred distillery. Yes, I'm a devoted fan, but the accolades for Mickey Heads are truly earned. I can detect the peat and smoke from a distance. The aroma also includes more seaside maritime notes with abundant grilled strawberries, raspberries, and watermelons. These flavors carry through to the palate, alongside sweet barbecue pulled pork, reminiscent of Cincinnati/Kansas City style. Imagine if Balvenie could infuse their Caribbean Cask 14 offering with savory notes. The long finish evokes juicy fruit gum, seashells by the ocean, and deep charcoal. A score of 4.75; the only reason it's not a perfect 5 is that I desired slightly more savory balance. All these tropical notes make me feel the theme should have some reggae influence. A fitting soundtrack would be The Police's "Walking on the Moon."

Rich scents of orange oil, walnut, and burning candles. Adding water reveals a hint of pine. A sip bursts with flavors of oranges, mole sauce, and chocolate; it's reminiscent of an orange liqueur or an Amaro, a Sicilian bitter made from blood oranges. The finish is thick, enduring, and sweet, akin to a dessert wine. Served neat, it verges on being too sweet for my preference, but a drop of water yields a tangier finish. Much like last year's Committee Edition, this is a remarkably distinctive take on Ardbeg, clearly different from its predecessors yet still possessing that Ardbeg character. I'm close to awarding five stars, but I wonder if the sweetness might become tiresome over time. Further tastings will reveal this, but for now, acquire a bottle if you can.