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Nose: Spicy and savoury, Ardcore grips the senses with waves of marmite, burnt toast, chicory charcoal and infused coffee grounds making for a mosh pit in the glass. Like a safety pin through the septum, a classic Ardbeg herbal top note is present, while swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses loiter backstage.
Palate: A jaw dropping spicy and fiery mouthfeel leads to an explosion of rich, smoky flavours- cocoa powder, dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot and bonfire embers all pogo in unison on the palate. Amped up aniseed and malty biscuit elbow their way to the fore, punkturing taste buds.
Finish: In an altogether sweeter finish, long, lingering notes of treacle toffee, soot and smoke make for an anarchic, but delicious, aftertaste.
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Nose: Peat reek with a slight hint of leather reminds me of slow smoked meat on a Traeger or marinated jerky. It's rich with an organic earthiness similar to a tree log overcome with fungi and moss. A touch of navel orange pops through the umami, but there isn't a true sweet note. The malted barley really comes through the entire dram.
Palate: The leather and meaty notes from the nose are present, however, these notes do not overtake the whisky. On the other hand, I can only describe it as the taste of the scent of an old baseball glove. The mouthfeel is unique; it is really clean and light with a smooth feeling, yet it is not oily. Faint orange segment mixes with fruit tartlets. The cereal grain from the nose presents on the tongue as pie dough. I suppose the “soot” note Ardbeg gives is fairly accurate; to me it comes off like charcoal, but more so cigar ash.
Finish: The finish lingers for hours. It just sits at the top of the belly warming you to an excessive temperature. Adding water doesn't get rid of the warming sensation you'll feel, but it will open the whisky and give it a velvety soft mouthfeel. Finally, I recommend cleansing your palate with food since the whisky leaves the taste of having smoked a cigarette for quite a long time after finishing a sip.
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