Oh, Ardbeg. How I love thee. Corryvreckan is actually my second favorite, after Uigeadail, but is a tremendous whisky in its own right. I acquired a bottle during a nice sale, and thought I would revisit this powerful Islay brew.
Corryvreckan was originally a "Committee Release," Ardbeg's fan club offering, and it replaced a beloved dram, Airigh Nam Beist, in 2009. Corryvreckan was supposed to be a limited release, but has continued unabated to this day.
Rather infamously containing no age statement, bottled at 57.1% (100 proof under the old British standard of 7/4 ABV), coloring and chill filtering unknown, a mix of ex-bourbon and French oak (rumored to be Burgundy) casks.
Nose: Very thick nose - the whirlpool reference in the name is apt, it swirls. Fiery oceanic peat and smoke. Peppered bacon. Sweet creme brulee vanilla. Coal tar. Butter. Pineapple. Pine. After the glass sits a while, salt, pepper, and toffee are added in there.
Mouthfeel: Very thick legs on the glass, oily, full mouth.
Palate: Wow! WOW! This never ceases to amaze me. Immediate big burst of sweetness, like fireworks, followed by a tornado of smoke and seaweed and pepper and soot. Tar and tobacco. Thickly peppered ham. Old leather. Acidic fruit like pineapple. Cherry stones and grape skins.
Finish: Very long finish. Pepper, smoke, espresso and ashy chocolate.
Verdict: This is a real winner from any perspective. It's rich, savory, sweet, has many many angles, all of them fully developed. Like everyone else, I wish I knew exactly what was in it, and like everyone else I will buy more. This is a fantastic whisky. I paid $70 during a sale, and it was worth every penny. A really fantastic offering from Ardbeg.
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