Ardbeg SMWS 33.70 - “Keith Richards Meets Socrates Classics”

Nose: Sweet smoke up front, with some honey sugars, and some hints of meat bouillon, which one finds sometimes in sherry matured whiskies.

Palate: Wow. Ultra ashy, like putting your tongue inside a full ashtray that has not been emptied a few days, in a bar. Ashes, dry ashes, galore. later sweet sherry notes mixed with smoke, tar, soot, charred wood, and some liquorice. Yes, I know Ardbegs are usually ashy, but this one takes the ashy theme to extremes. If you like it, it’s your dram, if not, leave it alone. The sweet, sherry,winey notes mixed well with the Smokey,sooty,ashy side, there is a very delicate interplay between the two, where you switch “ashy” and “sweet” every few seconds. a delight.

Finish : Smoke,BBQ sauce grilled meat & ash.

Bottom line: For the lovers of ash,a heaven on earth. for the rest, forget it! look elsewhere. Overall ,Great sweet/smoke interplay. A stunner IMHO.

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