Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release & Ardbeg Uigeadail

Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release

Region: Islay

ABV: 51.7%

Price: £100

Bottled to celebrate Ardbeg Day 2021, Scorch was according to Ardbeg “matured in ex-Bourbon American oak casks, fiercely charred and packed with smoke”

Nose

Ok, this definitely noses like an Ardbeg. We’re getting bonfire smoke, iodine, vanilla pods, petrol, grilled melon, caramelised brown sugar, vanilla s’mores, and red apple.

Palate

We’re initially getting cloves, tar, heavy bonfire smoke, sugar paper, pears, and vanilla fudge. There’s a sweetness here, but it’s dominated by the smoke. Medium finish with chill spice.

Nose (with water)

Water douses the fire here and this becomes much more costal. We’re also getting Monin toffee syrup, cinnamon, cloves, aniseed, apple, and a hint of peat in the background.

Palate (with water)

More herbal now with a hint of dampened wood, smoke, and a warm cinnamon bun. This doesn’t need the water as it’s now a touch thin. We’re also getting some vanilla/butterscotch ice cream. The chilli on the finish has given way to pepper. The finish is also a touch longer now.

Conclusion

This is too expensive on auction, but if you were able to pickup a bottle at RRP then open it and you won’t be disappointed.

Score: 8/10

Let’s be honest giving the whisky gods have been particularly unkind these last few years there’s a good chance you weren’t able to nab a bottle. Well fear not, as we’d like to introduce you to Ardbeg Uigeadail. Thats pronounced “Oog-a-dal” if you’re unaware. Read on for our review of the core range bottle that you can still get your hands on..

Ardbeg Uigeadail

Region: Islay

ABV: 54.2%

Price: £64

Uigeadail is vatting that marries bourbon and sherry casks to produce Ardbeg’s most popular core release.

Nose

An expected whiff of peat, supplemented with some Barr’s Irn Bru. Tomato, iodine, toasted bagel sprinkled with sesame seeds, tiny touch of tropical pineapple and mango in the background. There’s also lingering campfire smoke, a whiff of an unsmoked gammon joint, and chalk.

Palate

This is Christmas cake drizzled with honey. Very oily mouthfeel, think of toothpaste without the mint. There’s also salted caramel, cassia bark, and fresh tarragon leaves.

Nose (with water)

Opens with sweetcorn and dried fruits. With a touch of water the sherry casks are really starting to show through. We’re also getting baking soda, a touch of raw alcohol, a mint julep cocktail, lots of smoke and ash.

Palate (with water)

Initial hit of warming brown sugar with a touch of cinnamon spice, sweetened peat smoke, some grain alcohol flavours, with a lingering meatiness on the finish.

Conclusion

We’re not the biggest fan of non-age statement whiskies, but there are a few that we make exceptions for and this is one of them. Full of flavour and at a really good price, this should be a staple on the bar of any peated whisky lover.

Score: 8.5/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

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