Ardbeg Perpetuum

Nose: Fresh salty gusts arriving from the sea. Sea spray, iodine, seaweed, and a subdued yet invigorating smoky peat aroma. The faint smoke from a distant old steamer battling the waves. There are also citrus and vanilla notes, along with a hay-like dustiness to the smoke. Although sherry casks are said to be involved, it smells like a pure bourbon maturation; those sherry casks must have been new American oak. Adding water doesn't enhance the nose; it develops plastic scents and loses its subtlety. It's much better neat. (The aroma from the empty glass is intensely vanilla. Indeed, American oak). Palate: A lively and fresh arrival, practically buzzing with fresh barley. It's maritime and salty, and during the initial development, there's a sudden wave of grapefruit and lemon pepper. The smoke is present throughout the palate but is overtaken by the citrus notes. It lacks texture, feeling somewhat thin, brittle, ashen, and light. A slightly brackish note, like olive brine, emerges later. Adding water makes it sweeter but diminishes its quality, eventually becoming very sweet. Finish: Lengthy. Maritime and sooty, with a lingering sour-sweet aftertaste that pleasantly shifts towards salted milk chocolate at the very end. Compared to other Ardbegs, the nose is quite gentle, with a crisp lightness. However, the palate is somewhat lacking, though admittedly delicate and elegant. I agree with the official tasting note that there's no middle ground to this whisky, only a beginning and an end. It's true. There's no sign of alcohol at any point; the nose and palate are completely free of intrusive ethanol, even at nearly 48% ABV. It's likely the most understated and refined Ardbeg I've encountered. More than anything, this makes me envision the taste of peated seawater, if such a thing were possible. It is straightforward, direct, and probably quite young with minimal cask influence. Water doesn't significantly detract from it but does make the profile more common. It also doesn't open up much over time in the glass. Pour this and drink it neat. I enjoyed this whisky, but it's the type of dram you rate highly but then question if you'd buy a bottle. Probably not. Still, it's a good dram and for me, just shy of four stars. Tasted from a 30ml sample. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

I'm a fan of the Laphroaig Cairdeas series, Ardbeg 10, Corry, and Ugi. So, it makes sense to explore Ardbeg's annual releases, their equivalent to Cairdeas. I was drawn to this one because it's a 2015 release; naturally, it has become quite scarce and thus a must-buy. Let's investigate. Nose: Strong brine and campfire smoke and ash. Iodine and sea salt. Brine and peat smoke are dominant. There's a sweet custard note. Beyond that are strong lemon and grapefruit citrus notes. Vanilla, honey, and butterscotch, plus black pepper. A nice blend of peat, brine, citrus, sweetness, and a touch of spice. I'm enjoying it so far. Palate: Pleasant campfire smoke, iodine, band-aid, briny sea salt, seaweed, and ash. A citrus explosion: Lemon and grapefruit again, now with lime. A meaty ham/pork note. Vanilla, butterscotch, honey, and toffee. Some milk chocolate. No hint of spice or alcohol content. Finish: More smoke and salt. A spicy kick of oak, cinnamon, and black pepper hits hard after the smoke fades. As the spice subsides, I detect milk chocolate and hazelnut. Then, as the moderately long finish diminishes, I get one final puff of tobacco smoke. An interesting finish. Rated 4.0 stars. Well above average, but not quite a standout. For the $85 I spent, it's a worthwhile change of pace from the usual Ardbeg offerings. If you're considering paying secondary market prices for this bottle, reconsider. The nose is excellent, the rest is very good. I'm giving it some leeway since it's not excessively overpriced like many other limited releases. There's much to appreciate here, and I believe it perfectly embodies both Ardbeg and Islay characteristics. In any case, I'm pleased I managed to secure one of these so late in the game.

I received a sample of this special 200th Anniversary malt from Ardbeg several months ago through a trade with a new acquaintance from Maryland. This bottling was created to commemorate Ardbeg Day during the annual Feis Isle Festival in 2015. It was bottled at 47.4% ABV and has a light gold color. Swirling it in a Glencairn glass shows an oily coating with thin, slow-forming legs and releases the characteristic Ardbeg smoky, meaty aroma. The nose is classic Ardbeg: smoked brisket, seaweed, briny sea air, and fresh-cut oak. There's a surprising alcohol presence in the glass, which was unexpected. The palate mirrors the nose with earthy, meaty peat, a lighter smoke than usual, and salt. The mouthfeel presents an unusual contrast, shifting between oily and dry, which feels odd and doesn't harmonize well with the flavors. The youthfulness of a significant portion of the whisky is also apparent. The finish is medium in length, smoky, and salty, with a more pronounced peppery and oaky bite at the end. The entire sip seems to struggle to keep its elements cohesive, and not in a positive way. While the flavors are distinct and well-defined, they don't interact harmoniously. Everything feels rather rushed. Overall, I'm pleased to have sampled this, but it doesn't rank among my top Ardbeg selections due to its inconsistent feel. My thanks again to the friend who provided the sample. Unfortunately, this falls into the average category, and I would rate it between 3 and 3.25 stars. It's not Ardbeg's most exceptional offering to date. Cheers.

The aroma is soft and subtle, beginning with powdered sugar over grilled lemon and limes, along with mild diesel fumes and burnt rubber smoke, then dark chocolate-covered espresso beans and seaside rocky minerality, followed by caramelized mangoes, pineapple, and lychee that transitions to oyster shells and mild black tea with low ethanol burn. The taste has a medium mouthfeel, starting with creamy tropical fruits that quickly fade to a background of smoked seafood, seaweed, and moderate ocean brine, then spicy dark chocolate mocha, followed by grilled pineapple, apricots, and charred lime that transitions to mild baking spices and black tea with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length, starting with moderate smoke of burnt rubber and asphalt with black pepper that fades to slightly sour tropical fruits, grilled seafood, and mild black tea. A truly enjoyable, easy sipper where the aroma is surprisingly soft and sweet upfront with a mild smoke, along with creamy citrus and mild ocean brine that carries over to the palate, but the smoke is far more prevalent with moderate ocean brine and slightly sour fruits that finishes starting moderately smoky and earthy before fruits and grilled seafood conclude the experience. These were originally released for less than $100 and I think are well worth it, if you happen to find a dusty bottle like someone who was very generous in giving this one to me. Above $100, I'd pass and just reach for either their Ooggie or Corry as I prefer both of them to Perpetuum.

- Nose // Wow, intense smoke! Trying to discern more on the nose, but it's challenging right now 😬 With some air, I think I detect grass/hay? Possibly the peat mingling with whatever else is emerging to my senses... - Palate // Smoke! but manageable, perhaps I need more time to appreciate the peat. I'm picking up some caramel/vanilla, especially when I "chew" it. After swirling and "aerating," sweeter notes emerged before the smoke returned – each taste improved, suggesting I might grow to like peated whisky. I'm actually looking forward to trying it again with a second pour and adding a few drops of water to see the effect. - Finish // Smoke, with a lingering taste of a burnt marshmallow Frankly, I didn't anticipate being able to handle an Islay peat, but approaching it with an open mind may have allowed me to appreciate it more. I don't dislike it at all, but it might take me a while to adjust to that much peat. I'm curious about how to navigate the powerful smokiness on the nose and palate to identify other nuances. Any advice? This dram indeed evokes a campfire, and in a positive way:)

This place is truly dangerously alluring....I intended to stop after two, then five, then six, and now I'm at the ninth. I discovered a 1975 G&M St Magdeline... (who knew such a thing existed?). It absolutely blew me away, which isn't surprising given it's older than me. Then, a 40-year Teaninich... I'd never heard of them. Next week, a 30-something Glen Turret and a 32-year Port Ellen.... I've never used heroin, meth, or crack, nor spent hours in an opium den, but I imagine this bar is very similar. I told them to stop serving me after this... Anyway, what was I reviewing? Ardbeg Perpetuum, I believe. Sandwiched between the other two and after Kilchoman 09, I thought it would be overshadowed, but no, it held its own. I really enjoyed it... my tongue is a bit numb, so I'll say smoke and vanilla and leave it at that... oh wait, lemon on the aftertaste. I'll disregard the 3.75 rating... wouldn't buy a bottle, but enjoyed the sample. Now I have to figure out how to conceal the substantial credit card bill...