Kildalton (Ardbeg) 19yo Living Souls Batch One & Dramfool's Middle Cut Red Bag #4

Kildalton (Ardbeg) 19yo Living Souls Batch One

Region: Islay

ABV: 42.0%

Price: £134.00

Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, this 19 year old “teaspooned” Ardbeg (labelled under the pseudonym Kildalton) is part of the inaugural release from independent bottler Living Souls.

Nose

Initially on the nose tar, dry earth, marshmallows, wet pebbles, and candy floss appear. A light touch of brine sits in the background, along with lemon sherbet sweets and sugar rice paper. The smoke is very much present, but it’s soft, and well integrated. No noticeable spice or alcohol heat. Unmistakably Islay, and classic Ardbeg. Although the sherry influence isn’t overly pronounced.

Palate

Surprisingly good mouthfeel for just 42%. The palate opens with tar, dry earth, and smoke lead the way, joined by burnt matchsticks and black pepper on the finish. There’s a noticeable dryness here, less sweet than the nose suggests, but that floral, earthy peat we find with Ardbeg is very much on show. Flavours are a bit muted at first but build nicely by the mid palate. It has a medium length finish with gentle spice and ash lingering.

Nose (with water)

A few drops of water make it slightly nutty (think cashew nuts) and brings out a more medicinal tone to the smoke (think antiseptic). The peat holds up well, joined by aromas of milk chocolate, gingerbread, lemon peel, vanilla bon bons, golden syrup, and an old musty cupboard note. Those brine and floral notes have faded. Still interesting, but we preferred it without water.

Palate (with water)

Unfortunately, water dulls the palate significantly. Much sweeter now, but the complexity has faded. The earthy peat and smoke have all but vanished, replaced with generic woody notes and a flat, slightly bitter dark chocolate finish. Mouthfeel is still ok, but the shorter finish and lack of complexity make this feel like a different dram. A hint of ash lingers faintly in the background.

Conclusion

Surprisingly good neat: soft peat, combined with enjoyable sweetness, some complexity, and a solid mouthfeel for the ABV. It drinks its age. Unfortunately, water saps most of what we enjoy about it. A great example of how low ABV doesn’t have to mean low enjoyment.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

£134 is certainly a lot for a 42% indie bottling, but compared to Ardbeg’s own 19 year old Traigh Bhan at £245, this feels far more reasonable. For fans of peated whisky and Ardbeg specifically, it’s a worthwhile and well priced alternative.

Dramfool's Middle Cut Red Bag #4

Region: Islay 

ABV: 61.2%

Price: £85.00

Distilled on 2nd July 2020 and matured for four years in a refill red wine barrique, this Islay release (Ardbeg) is the fourth instalment in Dramfool’s “Red Bag” series. It’s also a sister cask to Red Bag #3, which we previously reviewed here:

https://twowhiskybros.co.uk/blogs/blog/dramfool-67th-release-peerie-craetir-3yo-dramfool-65th-release-macduff-11yo-cask-900262

Only 282 bottles were released.

Nose

Savoury and earthy straight out of the glass: dry soil, Cornish pasty filling, fresh bread, and cashew nuts. There’s also a slight funk reminiscent of swamp water. No noticeable heat or alcohol prickle despite the 61.2% ABV. With some air, more aromas emerge: hand-cooked crisps, iodine, and a hint of strawberries. That said, we’re not getting bold red fruit notes we’d typically expect from red wine cask maturation.

Palate

The palate is very much in line with the nose. Starts with tarry ropes, dry earth, and ready salted crisps, before giving way to peat smoke and brine. Some red fruit notes do emerge mid palate. There’s a light peppery spice on the finish, which is medium in length. The mouthfeel is slightly oily, and the alcohol is well integrated. It drinks well for such a young whisky.

Nose (with water)

The nose takes water well. The savoury and nutty notes intensify, and new aromas of lime cordial, seaweed, and sea spray come forward. The smoke is slightly dialled back, and as it sits in the glass note reminiscent of Aberdeen butteries appears.

Palate (with water)

With water, a touch of bitterness creeps in. The dry earth remains, but the savoury elements and smoke are slightly subdued. Mouthfeel has thinned a little but remains good. Finish is still medium, now with some crystallised ginger also lingering.

Conclusion

Personally we’d drink this neat. It’s impressive for a 4 year old, showing great balance between smoke, savoury, and coastal elements, with just enough fruit sweetness to balance it out. A testament to the quality of spirit coming out of Ardbeg, even at a young age.

Score: 8/10

Value

At £85 for a cask strength, indie Ardbeg in a refill red wine barrique, this feels pretty fair especially when compared to official bottlings. Not a bargain, but well priced for what it is.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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