Serendipity

My apologies for the absence from reviews for nearly three weeks. A friend initiated a whisky review channel on YouTube and requested my assistance in generating initial content. I chose to coincide my 500th review on this platform with a segment on the channel, titled Fresh Takes. This bottle served as the launch for that endeavor. The video is accessible online, so please take a look: https://youtu.be/yncYKtWFxHc Regarding this particular spirit, it is a combination of very aged Ardbeg and some Glen Moray 12. You might wonder about the pairing of these two. It was not intentional but rather a mishap during bottling. In 2005, while bottling Ardbeg 17, the operator mistakenly added Glen Moray to the vat before the Ardbeg was fully processed. Given the substantial quantity of whisky involved (over 14,000 bottles), Ardbeg decided against discarding it. Instead, they acquired Glen Moray's portion and released it as a blend for their members. It was offered at £30 in early 2006. Consequently, many bottles have surfaced in UK stores and at auction, which is how I acquired mine for approximately $170. This expression exhibits a straw gold hue and forms thick, indistinct legs in the Glencairn glass. It leaves a watery border with no droplets after a swift swirl. The aroma starts with subtle oak, light sherry, and some grape must. Initially, there's minimal smoke and no harshness, attributed to its 40% ABV bottling strength. After more than an hour of resting, the sweetness diminished, and a hint of BBQ smoke finally emerged. The palate strongly reflects Ardbeg: BBQ brisket and heavily salted bacon dominate. It is exceptionally smooth, with a minerality that persists beyond the midpoint. A trace of zesty lime and a faint sweetness are present at the finish (likely from the Glen Moray). Again, there is no harshness, so adding water is unnecessary. The finish is of medium duration, smooth, and mild. It leaves an oily coating in the mouth with a slight presence of smoke and ash, which is arguably the only minor drawback. Ultimately, it is not the exceptional, smoky sherry experience I anticipated, but the two components harmonize well. A significant detail about this whisky emerged during my research, which I'm withholding here to encourage you to view the Fresh Take video on the mentioned YouTube channel. Your support by watching, liking, and subscribing would be greatly appreciated. Kindly share it with others and explore our other content, as we aim to release new videos frequently. I rate this as a 3.75 star dram, with the potential for a.25 to.5 star increase after the revelation of the secret behind this bottle. Therefore, my final rating is 4.25 stars. Thank you for joining me for my 500th official whisky review; here's to many more, health permitting. Enjoy, everyone.

This... this was an odd little spirit. It was created by a complete accident. Ardbeg 17 was mistakenly combined with some Glen Moray. I'm uncertain of the Glen Moray's age (12?). However, instead of discarding the batch, they bottled it. Anything with the name Ardbeg will sell. They could mix shoe polish with Ardbeg, and some critic would write "incredible aroma of tar and diesel, with a palate of classic machine shop oil mixed with brine" nonsense, and it would fetch $1000. This sample arrived via a generous gift from a friend. What began as an error sold for £30, and now costs significantly more. But... Ardbeg or not... this wasn't to my taste. I felt it completely lacked the Ardbeg boldness. It was soft and smooth. The smoke and tar were absent, and it was reduced to a rather common bakery shop flavor profile. Perhaps if the mistake involved a 10 yr Ardbeg that retained its intensity, the result might have been better? As a collectible, this is likely one for the ages. It's exceptionally rare to see an accidental bottling like this sold. Needless to say, I am immensely grateful to my friend – I don't think I'll ever have the opportunity to try such an accidental rarity. Thanks to my friend!

This is a really intriguing pour, provided by a friend. He notes zesty lime and a floral note I can't quite identify. It's an interesting experiment, but not to my personal taste as it's not a profile I favor. To be fair, it followed Compass Box Stranger and Stranger, which was fantastic.

A truly lovely and light whisky. It's aging quite well, as I periodically pour some every few months since first opening it two years ago.