Ardbeg Drum

Was drum the point where Ardbeg jumped the shark? Was the CR even better than the standard? Lets find out. Double review will be posted to both. Drum CR vs Standard. Nose - On the CR Bannans, oak, light smoke, candied cigars (I get this almost always on peated whisky but especially ardbeg). I'm getting a bit of really young but used barrel oak notes. OK I'm getting similar notes here, but I'm getting more cigarettes. I'm getting more of a fire cooked fruit. Yeah the CR is more vanilla/bannana and the non CR has way more going on. Taste - CR - I do get the pineapple, the bannans, oak, vanilla, powdered sugar, light smoke, a bit of brine but not much. It's complex, it transitions, it does come off a bit young, but a lot of people want that on peat and actually it's really lacking the ardbeg peat punch. The non CR is more subtle, clearly watered down, but I get more from it. Most importantly I'm getting just a lot more peat more Ardbeg. Yeah there's more brine, more smoke and all those things I want in an islay and they really make themselves noticed on the finish. Well put some water in the CR! Nose on the CR does change a bit, but it's still not as complex as the non CR. It's more burnt vanilla forward. Taste - water here makes the CR drink younger with more harshness and more of that banana and youthful oak. It does extend the finish and gives me more of an ardbeg profile of smoke. The non CR has more of what I think of as Iodine (but to be honest I've only known that flavor through whisky discussions so grain of salt on that please). Overall - they're the same score for me, but the non CR has a better nose and taste. The mouth feel however on the CS CR makes up for both short comings. Are these good whiskies? They're ok. 2.0 and frankly they'll be a weird one to discuss. MSRP at some stores near me were the same for each. A few even sold the CR for less when it came out than the non CR. Legit know a store that did 120 for CR and 130 for non CR. So this is the non CR review and I just have to add in here, there's something about the lower proof that killed it on the nose out the gate and this was the same view I had neck pours on both and now with both having been open a while. As an ardbeg fan boy I'm disappointed with Drum, but I don't hate it and I don't feel like I personally got ripped off, but I fully get why some people disagree. It is flat out too young for the price, especially the non CR which is 109.99 in ohio and I've seen in the 130's in Kentucky.

Review #079 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: NAS, matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in ex-rum casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Golden straw color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 15/20 Molasses, caramel and grilled pineapple stand out. The smoke is here but it’s softer, more subtle than I’m accustomed to with Ardbeg, accompanied by a bit of lime zest a briny coastal breeze. Palate: 33/40 The classic Ardbeg ashy smoke flavor shines through here. It’s mingled with a plethora of fruits too. I can pick out bananas and pineapple but it tastes like there’s more, a hint of coconut too maybe. Brown sugar and molasses add to the sweetness. None of its punchy though, all these flavors are subtle and blend into something enjoyable, just not great or wow-worthy. Finish: 30/40 Medium-long finish. Sooty smoke throughout, mingling with burnt bacon and black pepper. It’s fairly consistent throughout, but ends on a softer note with a hint of vanilla. No noticeable rum cask influence here. With Water: A couple drops of water brings out a little vanilla on the nose and banana on the finish. Very minor changes, almost imperceptible. Total: 78/100 Final thoughts: I’m a big fan of peated whiskies, and of rum cask finishes. I had high hopes for this bottle. The kaleidoscope of flavors here is wonderful, but they’re all too subtle. Instead it’s another disappointing Ardbeg special release. It’s enjoyable to drink, but not worth the price tag, and leaves me wishing I’d been able to track down a committee release version instead. Price: $95 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.

It's late summer and 89°, but as I just finished tasting and reviewing a peated Irish whiskey, I decided to keep the peat theme going, despite the heat, and search for a peated whisky that I'd yet to review. I immediately recalled my single bottle of Ardbeg Drum, which I recalled not caring for (hence no review). Time for another assessment. I'll begin by stating that I'm not an Ardbeg fanboy. While the distillery makes some amazing whisky (Corryvreckan, Uigeadail), I've always viewed them as putting a little too much emphasis on marketing, which ultimately makes me question quality (not that those two elements have to be mutually exclusive). The Drum, aged in rum casks, is a poster child for Ardbeg's marketing: this bottling was released on the annual Ardbeg Day with a "thrilling Caribbean twist" (on the back of the packaging). The bottle itself is adorned with three cartoonish stickers, promising "Briny Notes,' "Ripe Banana Notes," and "Pineapple Notes" (in case someone forgot about the Caribbean theme). The pairing is as incongruous as the mayor of Miami Beach promoting a "Scotland Day," reminding everyone to wear their tartans and Fair Isle virgin wool sweaters. But I digress. Clear pale straw, suggesting no added coloring. Some smoky peat and malted barley notes on the nose, and perhaps a whiff of pineapple and ripe banana like the stickers say, but this seems more like an olfactory confirmation bias. There's some honeyed sweetness and Islay salt on the palate, finishing with smoky peat again. I think of a peaty scotch whisky as complex, brooding, and rugged as the Islay coast. It grabs you by the (ostensibly tweed) lapels and demands respect. Ardbeg Drum does not fit that profile. Call me an old-school traditionalist; I don't deny it. The cynic in me thinks that this is young unneeded inventory that the marketing department needed to get rid of without making it seem like it. I'm all for bringing new Scotch drinkers into the fold, and this bottling certainly has that potential, but it's not a serious whisky--even if the price is. 2.5 on the Distiller scale. No age statement; non-chill filtered; 46% ABV. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

After having a mediocre Ardbeg Blasda, i went the whole other way and had a dram that i don't know why i didn't had high hopes before tasting it. This Ardbeg Drum is an amazing Ardbeg, super appealing and if it were a core range expression i truly believe it will be taken off the shelves in a matter of minutes. Ardbeg drum is one of those limited editions of this distillery, which yearly releases something new (most likely NAS), highly collectible and 70% of the time is controversial over its quality. An ex-bourbon cask matured, finished in ex-rum barrels, this whisky is trying to give you a caribbean feeling... and they fully achieve this goal. Bottled at 46%abv, white wine color. On the nose, a perfect piña colada. Starts with your Ardbeg peat and Hay. Brownies. Some sweet red frutiness rising and stinky peat. Vanilla and Pineapple; It is powerful for a 46%abv. After 3 minutes it became crazy good. Smells exactly as a piña colada cocktail. Sugar syrup, Condensed milk. After 5 minutes it changed into a very grapy, cherries and sweet aroma. After a first sip, it gave me AMAZING COCONUT. at last that aroma note that everyone seems to perceive and that i never identify properly, here it is so cleam and accurate. Incredibly aromatic, with coconut, vanilla and peat. On the palate it is super appealing; Coconut, Pineapple, Then mild peatiness And Salt. Oliy, Fruity, tropical. A second sip was sweeter, sugar syrup, pineapple smoothie. Gooseberries. Condensed milk. It has a spicy finish. It is like a small ball of ginger, wasabi, pepper and salt that as time passes it grows bigger in your throat. It is spicy rather than peaty, salty rather than earthy. It is a medium long nice aftertaste. Overall, this was a memorable dram, a whisky i want to own and share with friends. It is the easiest Ardbeg to drink without losing its DNA or power, and that is the key for its success. Complex enough, peaty enough, sweet enough, fruity enough. Very well crafted, my score for it is 96 over 100 and i believe i am stealing some points here. Sláinte!

Ardbeg continues to impress with this release. Huge impact of the rum casks comes out in both the nose and taste. Nose: Rich full bodied peat and smoke. Very rounded and robust. The iodine and rubber smell I usually get off Ardbeg is completely gone. Instead it is replaced by fruits and spices. Overripe banana, sweet apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, slight raisin and nuttiness. Taste: Spicy peat and smoke fades quickly into an extremely creamy fruitiness. I was immediately reminded of a more smokey Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend. Cinnamon and nutmeg fade into a thick banana and apple flavor. The finish is pleasantly salty with citrusy flavors like lemon, ginger, and turmeric. Oily whiskey, flavors last a long time after.

Nose: light fragrant peat, salt air, getting hints of grilled pineapple. Cinnamon, and spiced rum. Whipped vanilla cream. Palate: sweeter on the palate than a traditional ardbeg. Peaty as you'd expect but its lighter than usual. Brown sugar, pear, pineapple, tropical fruit. Fruity sweetness clings to the back of the palate as it transitions to finish. Its not sickly or syrupy. This is a light, almost refreshing ardbeg. Finish: mild peat phenols, spiced oak. Slightly thinner/milder than usual ardbegs. Hints of cocoa.