Ardbeg Corryvreckan (NAS)

Not enough bottles of Scotch are named for unusual things; Ardbeg catches my interest when they release bottles named Alligator, AuriVerdes, and, of course, Corryvreckan - named for the famous whirlpool off of Scotland, between the Isle of Jura and Isle of Scarba. I understand and ultimately don't mind things like "Triple Wood" and "Fifteen Year" and "Sherry Cask" ... but I think it helps distinguish your distillery and product from among the dozens also using those phrases to come up with a unique descriptor like Ardbeg does here. 

The Corryvreckan is another No Age Statement release from Ardbeg; slightly controversial, their turn away from whiskies of known age and decision to switch to the dark, mysterious world they now inhabit - how is a simple drinker to know just what they are imbibing? THEY DON'T. This also goes along with the nice whirlpool theme - things are uncertain, unknown, not to be relied upon. But they are powerful. This is bottled at 57.1% ABV and non chill filtered, happily. 

Nose: Vibrant and rich. Complex! Peat, of course, heavy heavy doses of peat come right out to shake your hand... but right alongside them are sharp salty maritime notes, and a definite rich and tangy/bitter fruit element, like Starburst candy melted down. Simply delicious. 

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and voluptuous.

Palate: Wow! WOW! What a palate: smoke rides in on a dark horse of light iodine. Like Uigeadail, there is a savory meat element here, but much less pronounced than there - instead I find there is a sweetness and dryness that move forward.... as lime! Lime dances around a cedar note. There is more fruit here I'm not quite grasping - other reviews have said "pineapple," and "clementines" and "orange peel." I don't quite get those, although I can understand pineapple most. I'm going to just use the blanket statement "sour tropical fruit." 

Finish: Here things take a turn in an unexpected direction - when the fruit and smoke and brine and savory elements have all had their say, the remainder is ... dark chocolate! Maybe even a faint note of rich espresso, briefly. Definitely tobacco, like a fine pipe tobacco. The sour tropical fruit elements lay curdling on the tongue in the best way you can imagine. Very long finish. 

Verdict: Highly, highly recommended. If I didn't love Uigeadail just thaaaaaat much more, this would be in my cabinet at all times. This is another huge win from Ardbeg, a marriage of smoke with a kaleidoscope of intriguing and expressive flavors. Delicious, succulent, mysterious, and worth having on hand. 

Link to Ardbeg's site for Corryvreckan: http://www.ardbeg.com/shop/ardbeg-corryvreckan.html