ARDBEG 2000 Aged 25 Years ARTIST #15 Something in the Water

Nose : rich, expansive. Intense smoke, soot, ash and chunks of vegetal, saline peat take the lead. Then, beautiful notes of rancio (apricot, mango, roasted nuts, candied orange) follow. With aeration, aromas of salted butter caramel and heady flowers (iris, wild geranium) spread generously through the air.

Appearance : vieil or à reflets cuivrés.

Palate : ample and full-bodied. Closely aligned with the nose, the flavour profile reveals indulgent notes of marmalade, tarte Tatin and heather and linden honey. Gradually, peat takes hold of the palate, giving way to nuances of agave, tar, smoked bacon, iodine tincture, porridge and toasted bread that linger endlessly.

Overall : silky and plush. Rooty (ginseng, gentian) and smoky, almost tarry, it also reveals animal notes (smoked fish). In retro-olfaction, orange zest, dried fruits (raisins, dates), cardamom seeds and candied apricots highlight the noble influence of a perfectly integrated sherry cask maturation.