Ardbeg Corryvreckan

I've been putting off writing whisky reviews on here for a long time. I think the two main reasons for that is being 1) I didn't have enough faith in my own ability to do it properly, and 2) reviewing beer is many times easier than whisky.

My bottle of Ardbeg Corryvreckan (L10 168) spent a long time as the big and scary, yet unopened peat monster in my shelf. It's also been open for what is probably an equally long time (close to two years, perhaps?), yet I've only really gotten around to pick Corryvreckan over any other whisky in the last six months.

I have noticed that the powerful peat smoke has diminished somewhat since I opened it the first time, but unlike other reviewers, I've not noticed much lemon in it, not then or now (blame it on inexperience, hehe!).

On to the notes themselves:

Nose: Powerful and intense peat, limestone, some faint citrus, tarred (tar coated) hemp rope, sea spray, salt, smoked bacon, sour woodsmoke, sweet licorice, honey and a hint of tobacco. Water improves the smell of limestone, tarred hemp and bacon. All in all, this gives nice associations to old wharfs.

Palate: Full bodied. Sweet smoke, honey, bitter cocoa and dark chocolate, peat. Water brings forth the peat and limestone, and the whisky get a earthly expression.

Finish: Long finish, again with the sweet smoke, then brine and dark chocolate.

Corryvreckan may very well be what opened up Islay for me. I now regret not reviewing (this) whiskey(s) earlier.

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