Ardbeg Scorch (2021 Committee Release)

This bottle may be the one Ardbeg that truly exceeded my expectations. Little did I know, it would end up on my annual top ten list. The Ardbeg Scorch Committee release is a special expression for Feis Ile and Ardbeg Day, matured in "fiercely charred casks, by a very real Islay dragon". Bottled at 51.7% ABV, light in color. Nose: Spectacular. Burnt wood. Intense smoke, like Cuban cigars; chocolate and a pair of new shoes. Anise, sawdust, and something we call "Monigote de Año Viejo" in Ecuador – a full-sized effigy of a person or monster made from sawdust, glue, and newspapers, which Ecuadorians burn on New Year's Eve after stuffing it with fireworks. Soot. Coal. Burnt bread. After the first taste, a strong toffee note emerged, mixed with sawdust and hazelnut. For just a moment, I detected a citrusy Naranjilla flavor that made me wonder where it came from. Clove. It's incredibly complex. Milk powder, vanilla, swamp water, and passionfruit. It has everything. Palate: This might be the greatest whisky experience I've had. It starts with vanilla for a second, then a blast of sawdust mixed with peaty, salted water; it felt just like that scene in Pirates of the Caribbean where the pirate walks through his ship being destroyed by cannon fire, with wooden debris flying everywhere and explosions. Exactly like that. Gunpowder. Meaty, lovely. Vanilla, it even tasted metallic, like blood. Aftertaste: Continues the intensity. Sawdust, powerful smoke, truly great, awesome stuff. Burnt bread, very metallic. Like iron or copper. Plastic, silicone, and flare. Overall: I need more of this. I wish every whisky was like this. The experience, the power, the balance, the wildness; everything is delivered perfectly. One of the single malts I'll remember for years, the surprising Ardbeg Scorch. My score for it can only be 100 out of 100. Cheers.

I'm glad I held off on reviewing this for a while. When the bottle was first opened, it was a disappointment, lacking any unified flavors or profile beyond a sharp, unpleasant heat. Now, nearly a year later, it has mellowed into a drink that resembles a respectable single malt, though it doesn't set the standard. The nose reminds me of Ardbeg, but not distinctly. It lacks the herbaceous hay notes I expect from the 10 year, but they're replaced by a pleasant savory quality. Imagine the scent of unwrapped cold cuts rather than cured pork belly. There's also a hint of baked goods and sweetness, like opening a cake container. It's not the most captivating, but it's certainly not bad. The palate still feels somewhat unfocused to me. With small sips intended for detailed evaluation, it comes across as thin, still a bit fiery and unpolished. Peat, iodine, and rubber are present, which aren't offensive, but they quickly transition to dry smoke and ash in a rather short finish. However, when I take a larger mouthful and let it coat my palate, it reveals a pleasing richness and depth. Cigar smoke, raw tobacco, and leather are dominant, with the dry smoke serving as a background note that carries through to a medium-long, clean finish. It's by no means a poor drink, but for just under $200, there are countless other options that are just as good or superior, at a much lower cost. Sample it at a bar if you have the chance, but opt for the 10 year or Wee Beastie when shopping for bottles.

I swore I wouldn't revisit this... yet here I am. Another costly Ardbeg without an age statement. Why do I put myself through this? Nose: That peculiar combination of vanilla and something akin to baby vomit or sour milk, common in younger peated whiskies, is quite prominent. There's more smoked oak than usual, along with mint and a scent like Irish Spring soap. It's an unusual Ardbeg, but distinctly Ardbeg. A touch of lemon would be welcome. Taste: Burnt clay and intense iodine peat hit first, followed by roasted and burnt oak. They truly captured the "scorched" quality, exceeding my expectations. I would have wagered against them succeeding here. It's a massive peat bomb firing on all cylinders. If you adore peat and appreciate heavily charred barrels, you can't really go wrong, but is it great? Is it good? That's where I hesitate. I do detect some youthful off-notes, though subdued compared to some other recent Ardbeg releases. It lacks the refinement of the Arrrrdbeg, but that expression, while refined, was also old and rather dull. After the initial wave of smoke, I now perceive notes of candy cigarettes, powdered sugar, and sweet oak. Pine and wintergreen mint notes round out the profile. A bold and, I must admit, well-executed gimmick from Ardbeg. It earns 2 stars, and I can finally say Ardbeg didn't completely rip me off on a limited edition. Would I buy it again? No. But it's a decent enough dram to try once, and this bottle will likely be available for a while. I wish I'd grabbed two of these instead of two 'Blacks'... that was a mistake.

Ardbeg's signature peat, smoke, and sea salt are present on the nose, alongside notes of smoked bacon with black pepper, brown sugar, vanilla, char, and barrel smoke. Hints of lemon, wintergreen, strawberries, bananas, chocolate, and aged leather are also detected, as well as cardamom, cumin, cilantro, charred green bell pepper, nutmeg, and anise. It's not exceptionally deep, but offers considerable density and layers. The palate brings ash, smoke, and peat, followed by black pepper, nutmeg, anise, and wintergreen. Brown sugar and vanilla are noted, with oak and char reminiscent of bourbon, and good tannin. Dill, thyme, mint, orange, and clove emerge, along with bitter chocolate, leather, and tobacco. The experience is centered on the mid-range and mid-palate, with a medium body. The finish begins with a dash of citrus oil and ethanol, then charred oak and black pepper settle in. Campfire smoke, ash, and s'mores notes appear, followed by cigar tobacco and leather. Wintergreen, sugar, and bitterness persist for a good duration, complemented by appealing oiliness and a lengthy, evolving conclusion. This is a distinctive Ardbeg that succeeds in its aims. An enjoyable experiment, it adds a bourbon-like character to the classic Ardbeg profile. Those who are critical of Ardbeg's special editions might want to pass on this one as it deviates from the norm. However, for those who appreciate Ardbeg's exploration of maturation, this is a strong recommendation. I'm tempted to seek out another bottle. Enjoy!

Nose features vanilla bean, tar, woodsmoke, coconut, and milk chocolate, reminiscent of an Almond Joy bar. The aroma is full and well-integrated. The peat is prominent but lacks brine or medicinal qualities; the smoke from the wood is more noticeable than the peat itself. Palate presents charred oak, burnt vanilla, and a tar-like peatiness towards the end, which is a positive characteristic. The mouthfeel is exceptionally thick. Finish is lengthy, with notes of crème brûlée sweetness and strong peat. Overall, while not the most intricate Islay I've encountered, this is arguably the most substantial and high-caliber peated scotch I've tasted. Complexity isn't essential for a good whiskey in my opinion, but execution is. Despite its supposed aging in casks intensely charred, this release is skillfully crafted and remarkably balanced, even for someone not primarily a peat enthusiast.

I initially thought this was superior to the GR, and perhaps it is, very slightly. However, the alcohol content doesn't compensate for the flawed execution of the concept. It tastes young, unfocused, and is simply not enjoyable. What's worse is that it doesn't earn any style points for attempting something novel. It ultimately resembles licking the base of an ancient ashtray that also had something like bubble gum in it. Fortunate that I only acquired a half bottle. I only discovered these special releases a few years ago after starting my journey into scotch, and naturally, I'd heard of the legendary alligator. Since tasting this, I've been fortunate enough to experience several of the older special releases. My only comparative comment is, this doesn't compare to a dark cove.