As i been telling you lately, Ardbeg's latest special releases are a hit or miss. They have produced some great, breathtaking whiskies, as well as other boring, underwhelming expressions. This have gained a strong critic against excessively marketed bottlings that did not reach their potential. This year, Ardbeg released two very different whiskies: one was the amazing "BizarreBQ" which almost everyone i know seemed to love; and also this, the more expensive one, the official committee of 2023, called "Heavy Vapours". The story behind it, is that Dr. Lumdsen took out one of the purifiers from one of stills, changing the whole density of the vapours that will condensate to turn into Ardbeg's iconic spirit. Of course, the label says that this will make this dram the most "full blown" Ardbeg ever.... Bottled at 50.2%abv. On the nose, it starts with Ardbeg's herbal peat. Moss and grapefruit juice. A fresh can of new tennis balls, dim ashes. It feels "hairy" on the nose. Mold in a wall. On the palate i get vainilla ice cream, herbal notes, ashes. It is very gentle and a little yeasty; nothing heavy or full blown here. Aftertaste is the best part. A pair of cotton socks, very herbal. Elegant, nice, friendly on the palate (i don't know if that is what i am looking for in an Ardbeg). Dry. It actually feels like licking the top of a cooking pot, the condensation feeling here is real. Cotton shirts, tennis balls. Overall, i don't think this is the worst Ardbeg ever, and i don't think this is the best one either. A very fair, unenthusiastic whisky that many will enjoy without too many problems. It is a nice whisky that doesn't live to a committee release expectation, and that is a problem here. My score for it is a super honest 88 over 100 which makes it an enjoyable dram that i will soon forget.
About this bottle
Ardbeg Heavy Vapours is the 2023 release to celebrate Ardbeg Day, held annually during the Islay Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle). Crafted by Dr. Bill Lumsden, this single malt whisky is made without the use of a purifier, a part of the still which gives Ardbeg a balance of fruit and smoke. This lack of the purifier allows the heaviest vapours to rise up during the distillation process. This particular bottling is released for the brand's Committee Members and is bottled at a slightly higher proof (50.2% ABV) than the other limited edition release (46% ABV) with the same name. (SRP $158)
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 6 parsed reviews.
First thing I noticed was that this whiskey is very very light in color. Almost clear but a hit of yellow. The nose is of toasted oak and charcoal. On the palate I get at first vanilla, chocolate, coconut and cherry that then gives way to tobacco leaf, oak, cigar, campfire smoke and bitter ash. The name heavy vapors is appropriate, not for the vapors that come off the whiskey in the glass, but more the feeling you get from exhaling after a sip.
The absence of the purifier left some big coal and dark chocolate notes. Nose: Dark Chocolate, Peppermint, Chili Peppers, Smoke, Coal, Iodine, Watermelons, Cinnamon, Cloves, Grilled Pineapples Palate: Smoke, Mackerels, Dark Chocolate, Coal, Blood Oranges, Beef, Ashes, Prunes, Burnt Caramel, Apricots Finish: Chocolate Oranges, Ashes, Iodine, Coal, Caramel, Pears, Raisins
Love ardbeg, but found this one quite bitter for my palette, without the alluring sweetness of corry or uigedail.
Highly peaty on the nose. Licorice on the palate. Strong burn and ash on the finish. Nice.
Love this one - maybe the non committee release is better?
Tastes like this
Same style and price bracket, best rated first.
