Ardbeg Ardcore (2022 Committee Release)

Review #081 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 50.1% Comments: NAS, spirit made using roasted black malt, cask types not disclosed Tasted after: Ardbeg Ardcore Appearance (no score): Pale straw color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, it beads up very quickly, but legs are slow to form. Nose: 15/20 Sweet vanilla, caramel, oak spice, nuts, brown sugar, and little peat smoke. There’s also a hint of something chemical, pool chlorine perhaps? Palate: 28/40 Very mild. It’s nutty with a whiff of savory smoke, a little dark chocolate, and a drop of molasses. I’m really struggling to find anything else. Finish: 30/40 Medium finish. Ashes and oak spices transition to a flavor which reminds me of having just ate some extra dark chocolate. It ends with a slight menthol note and cooling sensation. With Water: A couple drops of water add yellow pears to the nose, a little salt to the palate, and amplifies the oak spices in the finish. Total: 73/100 Final thoughts: Generally I really like the Ardbeg committee releases, but this one falls short. It was fun though to try this after the 46% release and see how different the flavor profile is. This whisky is very smooth for being 50.1%, but it’s also lacking bold flavors and complexity. It’s a fine sipping dram but not one that I’d ever seek out. Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample. Price: gifted sample Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Recently Ardbeg has suffered some backlash because people think that their latest releases aren't as good as they were 4-5 years ago. In my personal experience i have liked almost all of them, some where better than others but i believe that "Scorch" or "Fermutation" were actually amazing drams. Having said that, their expression that suffered the most critics was this "Ardcore", made using "Dark Roasted Barley" (i don't know if it is the same as the one the same company, LVMH, uses in the almighty Glenmorangie Signet, which is an incredible whisky). I already rated the normal "Ardcore", and now it is time for me to rate the committee release; which is basically the same single malt at a higher strength, 50.1%abv. On the nose, starts with notes of wood polisher, cotton socks, lots of sawdust; smoked chitterling. I also get some liquid paper and a wet dog, lol. Letting it breath a little released an aroma of nerf toys, organic soil; it actually smells like a fish market and a cow stable mixed together. Not my favorite Ardbeg here. On the palate, it fails to develop something interesting or bold as the bottle marketing suggests. Vanilla, sweet bread. It feels weird, not very pleasant. Glue and hints of chocolate. Aftertaste surely feels like the best part. Plastic, very long finish; car tires, oily and Kerosene (in a good way). Overall, this is in no way, shape or form a good value for your money. It is not a bad or off-putting, it just lacks emotion and complexity. It feels like Ardbeg really threw something cheap and unfinished here. The normal release (46%abv) is a lot better and it wasn't impressive. My score for this one is a dissapointing 83 over 100.

Chocolate malt adds notes of dark chocolate and dark fruits to the Ardbeg profile. Nose: Dates, Brown Sugar, Raisins, Figs, Pecans, Luxardo Cherries, Plums Palate: Dark Chocolate, Raisins, Prunes, Ginger, Christmas Cakes, Orange Peels, Toffee, Raspberries Finish: Raisins, Nutella, Prunes, Ginger, Orange Peels, Apricots, Honey, Grapefruit Peels

Very short sweetness In the beginning then transitions to sharp and acrid (but not as sharp as the 10s) , then a rich darker fruit note into a smooth transition into peat smoke. This being said, I will die for ardbeg 💯

Smoke is a little more subdued, replaced with some chocolate notes. Best Ardbeg CR in a couple years IMO.

Big smoke and peat at the nose. Flavor is huge smoke, huge peat. Bitter toffee, black coffee notes.