Ardbeg is a distillery I particularly like (being partial to the more intensely peated whiskies of the Islay region), and Uigeadail is my favorite whisky of theirs... one of my very favorites of all time, in fact. This is a whisky that will always be found on my shelf.
Ardbeg is well known, along with Laphroaig and Lagavulin, for intense flavors of smoke and brine and iodine and salt and even coal. The Ardbeg Ten Year contains these flavors all by themselves, although expertly arrayed into a delicious formation.
I'll review the Corryvreckan and Ten Year soon. Uigeadail (which means "dark and mysterious" and is named for a local loch that supplies some of the water used to make Ardbeg) is this deep smoke intensity married to a delicious ex-sherry cask sweetness, which come together and form something unbelievably savory.
Worth mentioning is the sub-cult that revolves around Ardbeg's decision to release Uigeadail and many of its other whiskies without any age statement - apparently the early batches of Uigeadail and its kin are notably better, as they contain higher percentages of older batches, which lend richness and depth and smoothness and complexity.
The newer batches, theoretically, taste younger, brasher, have a shallower taste profile. Since I have don't have the resources to hunt down old bottles of Ardbeg (what a great profession that would be!! Whisky Detective), this review will be for a bottle dated 2013 according to the bottle code.
One last note: I drank this entire bottle neat; I will update this review at a later date after adding a few drops of water to a future purchase.
Nose: Amazingly rich - smoke, deep rich smoke leads off, quickly followed by a sort of honeyed meatiness (honey-glazed pork is most accurate), with lurking underpinnings of dark sherry fruit - plums, raisins. The smoke gives way, reluctantly, to chocolate and maybe old leather. Very balanced.
Mouthfeel: Thick and oily, amazingly smooth considering it's 54.2% ABV. Full-bodied, and coats the mouth.
Palate: Wow, the mouth really fulfills the promises of that rich nose. Honey-smeared pork returns, or maybe a BBQ combination of smoke and sweetly salty steak. This may not sound like something you would want in alcoholic liquid form, but it's actually delectable. The savory flavors are backed up by a posse of sherry flavors - wine, raisins, molasses. The smoke is always present, but in a really positive way - always melding gracefully with the other flavors. Just amazing and sensual stuff.
Finish: Long, longer, longest. The smoke and salt just go on and on, with hints of coffee (?) and chocolate.
Verdict: Must own. This is one of the few bottles I try to have on hand at all times. My personal favorite Islay scotch. While I would be interested in trying one of the older, supposedly richer bottlings, I am more than happy with this one young version.
Link to Ardbeg's own page for Uigeadail: http://www.ardbeg.com/shop/ardbeg-uigeadail.html
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