I was given a bottle by a friend who couldn't handle the peat. I need to try it again. The first couple of times I sampled it, I was reminded of a grilled steak. Don't think I tried adding water. I like it fine but it does have a strong flavor that is a little different. I favor Islay whiskeys with the peat and smoke and saltwater flavors.I finished an evening walkabout sipping a Surley Supreme (pilsner).
My wife came home and I am grilling a piece of catfish for a late dinner. We have opened the bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail. After tasting this whiskey, the hardest or scariest part of this Ardbeg is pronouncing the name. I did google up the location of the loch of said name that Ardbeg gets its water from. I admit I went on-line to get this correct.
The nose, aromas, are separate but make a whole. The taste morphs from one to another with no one taste demanding more. It overall has a saltwater, smokey, pepper and at the end some cherry or raisin.
I did add some drops of water and it did absolutely change the mouth taste. With water I could discern some sweet fruit (orange peel). The water made the dram very easily drinkable. My wife and I agreed that it tamed the peat and was "better tonight."
I like this whiskey. A lot. Better than Ardbeg Ten or Wee Beastie? I do not have an opinion yet. More time and sipping opportunities are needed for a preference.
Cheers folks, Eric -
Glad the water changed the taste. Perhaps it is anticipating the flavor. I, and visitors, have finnished a couple bottles of the Wee Beastie and I have grown to enjoy the taste of that. This Ardbeg has lots going on and is smoother in aroma and taste, IMO. I am a couple drams into the bottle and lots of time and opportunity to make my mind up.
Happy to be home from work on Saturday afternoon found me pouring a small dram of Benromach Sassicaia (2010). This is a Speyside small independent distiller.
The first opening sip of this whiskey had me wondering if this was a good buy. As I have sipped to the shoulder of the bottle, it has changed. The taste of berries, citrus and barley have poped out. I followed the advise of Rallfy,https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp0k3OKqfkPW0HdRLA8JWZg , and added a few drops of water. I got a fancy whiskey pipet gift from my brother in law to add water. It does work and in this whiskey tasting, It made a difference. The sour and ginger along with the intensity of the fruit taste comes alive. This is only a 10 year, but is a great sip today. This whiskey is a challenging taste (water and opened bottle), but is very enjoyable. It was a good buy.
Later in the evening I was scampering about sipping a Bent Paddle Venture Pils, Duluth, MN brewery.
Cheers folks, Eric -
