Uigeadail or Galileo?

@Wills Oops! Yes you're right. Don't know why but I had it in my head Galileo was a 10yo whisky. I think my brain has gotten damaged from too much Ardbeg.

@NilsG It's aged from 1999 and was bottled 2012.

No damage, just too much facts to remember :D

@talexander I read your reviews, and let me say I appreciated them both. Well done, sir.

While I'm still a huge fan of the Uigeadail, I must say that for whatever reason, recently I prefer the Ardbeg 10 actually...

Kind of surprised that Whisky Magazine gave Galileo the best Whisky of the Year award. I'd take any standard Ardbeg over the Galileo. Not a bad malt but def not the best.

I really like the Galileo!! It bursts on the palate with smoke and peat but all the while sweetness moderates all the bitterness, sourness and saltiness. I have recently reviewed it on my blog and I hope it helps you make up your mind: maltmileage.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/…

In other news, I finally tried the Uigeadail.

I know this is well-tread ground for most of you, but... Oh my god! What a dram. I thought maybe it wouldn't blow me away or anything -- that somehow, it had been overhyped. Nope. Even though all I've had is a simple 5 cL taster, it might just be my favourite whisky already.

The downside is it definitely makes me want to try some more Ardbeg... So maybe I will grab some Galileo while I have the chance. After all, I haven't heard anyone say they dislike it or anything.

@HeartlessNinny Glad you liked the Ugie.. it is a special dram for sure. I tried Galileo last night for the first time - it didn't blow me away, could've been the over-hyped nature of it that killed it for me. Don't get me wrong - still a fine whisky. Just don't set your expectations too high to be on the safe side. I'd rate it a solid 85/100 but that's just me.

I've got a bottle of Uigie and I've taste the Gal a few times at bars. Uigie wins, but the Gal is good. She's softer, easier on the tongue, and there is a slight tug of war between sweet and peat, whereas with Uigie the marriage is harmonious.

I find the firestorm of controversy ignited by Ardbeg Galileo to be entertaining, highly amusing, and a little puzzling. For a very long time I did not understand why Galileo should ignite such violent passions both pro, and, even more emphatically, con. It has taken me 8 months to figure out what I think that this is all about.

What I think is going on here is that Ardbeg Galileo is seriously challenging thinking about the establshed Ardbeg style. Wine was never the issue with Ardbeg, and even the wonderful Uigeadail gives a beautiful fusion of the traditional Ardbeg style with wine, and does not in any give the idea of the wine flavours being the dominant flavour message.

What Ardbeg Galileo does, which is DOWNRIGHT UNFORGIVEABLE for some, and the best thing, ever, for others, is to have the traditonal Ardbeg style act as a mere SUPPORTING CHARACTER for the wine flavours.

As for me, I like both the traditonal Ardbeg Stye, and I like the Ardbeg Galileo Marsala-Wine-supported-by-traditional-Ardbeg-Flavours-as-Back-Up, too. I don't consider this issue worth getting excited about.

I like both traditional Ardbeg and Ardbeg Galileo in their places. And yes, those are different places.

@Victor I'd just like to point everyone to victors response to let everyone know that we all have just been schooled in a good way :)

@Victor Wise words to be sure. And your timing is excellent! I bought a bottle of Galileo just the other day (and an Uigeadail as well, natch). I absolutely love Ardbeg, but I'm not a purist. So needless to say, I'm looking forward to trying it. I think I might empty a bottle or two from the cabinet first, though.

But thank you for the response. I found the debate rather interesting as well, and informed opinions on the matter are welcome indeed.

@Victor Great point you have brought up. I've only had the Ardbeg 10yr and I do own a bottle of the Galileo and will try the Uigeadail at some point. The point that gets me is that when everyone says one or the other and lots of opinions for both camps are flying around on discussion boards I can't help but wonder that Ardbeg wins. The old adage of the only thing worse that being talked about is not being talked about. Just some humble non expert observations. :)

@Victor You're the man!! I already know that my next dram of Gallileo is going to taste better just because of a few lines you wrote. Thank you!! (and curse you, for I think I now have to get a bottle that I had already decided was too pricy, lol).

@NilsG don't let you get fooled, Victor is working for Ardbeg ;)

Just joking obviously. Was a nice point but I won't buy it nonetheless. It has nothing to do with the character though.

@Wills No really, I realize I approached Galileo biased in a way that didn't allow me to fully appreciate it. Or at least so I believe. I will drink it again. And buy a bottle if I can't help it.

Also, I want to discover what made it the best god damn whisky of 2013, cause I dont get it. Me being wrong about my impression is actually the most likely explanation.

@NilsG But this sounds a little dangerous. Hope you don't just force it too much because of a title.

Btw. nice that you bought both bottles @HeartlessNinny. Hope to read your comparing thoughts.

Howdee Ho, everybody. Victor, great comment you have here and this was a fun discussion. Thanks, NilsG for giving me a heads up about this thread. As Victor said, all of your opinions have been fun a delightful to read. :D

I think in terms of Ugeadail or Galileo it raises an interesting topic: The Purist Vs. The Tinker (Er I don't know the term that's opposite of having a purist's perspective. So, I'm suggesting that the tinker isn't tinkerbell but the one who comes up with quirky inventions). I suppose, in some ways, Uigeadail has more of a "classic" Ardgeg Profile--the Purist's Palate if you will-- in the sense that it has the power forward smoke and briny quality like that of the 10, Cryvrekian (totally know i'm butchering the spelling), Alligator Roller Coaster, etc. Uigeadail has always been my favorite out of the Ardbeg bunch because it takes a layer of complexity a step further, where I'm greeted with a lush of earl grey tea.

As far as Galileo, part of the surprise here is that the smoke is quite shy in the beginning, only to emerge during the finish. The sweetness of the red wine from the barrel cuts through the smoke and drops the PPM at a significant rate it seems, appearing to usurp the classic Ardbeg taste. All of a sudden my mind is taken aback to this kind of reaction, "What the FAAAAAK? This ain't no Ardbeg (What can I say, I'm not a classy broad)." It was quirky, fun a different---something I didn't anticipate from the Ardbeg line.

With all of that in mind, I find these wine finishes or other barrel finishes to challenge the imbiber's palate. I've heard from quite a few whisky drinkers that they "hate" these wine barrel finishes, and the people in the industry should continue making "traditional" style whiskies. Galileo to me is like the film No Country for Old Men, where Javier Bardem's character (spoiler alert!!) gets away with killing a slew of people. Not to say that Galileo is injustice...no way at all...but the Cohen Brothers have always managed to master the category of "Absurdist's Play"---there's no traditional story to their formula of story telling. No conflict and resolution, but a story that doesn't have a story. So, in many ways, because it's different, it forces one to react a different way--to think about story telling in a different perspective. And for that reason, I appreciate Galileo for its quirky nature and I like it when people experiment with casks and shooting whisky to the moon or douse their barley with alder chips and stuff.

This idea also raises the question of American Micro Distillers as well: Are they bastardizing whisky or offering a new perspective to the palate? And that's the fun thing about this debate of keeping whisky traditional and/or changing the recipe. To me, this isn't about exploring obvious juxtapositions of ...let's say...jazz to classical music, but here with Galileo you're presented with John Cage, a composer who as actively disbanded the ideas of four part harmony and walked away from the 5-4-1 chord progression, and you're forced to "retrain" your ear to look at music differently. You can hate it or like it and it's all good in the hood. And that is all with post modern talk about booze.

I've said it in other threads, not a fan of Galileo. It is not that it is wine finished/influenced. I don't have a problem with that so long as the whisky TASTES GOOD. For me, Galileo falls short of "good." I have called in disasterous. I was maybe a little drunky when I said that. It is not a disaster, but neither does it deliver the goods I expect from a 100.00 bottle.

I cannot find balance or cohesion in Galileo. I can in the Uggie. Perhaps the difference in blending from bourbon cask and wine cask (like the Uggie) versus aging in oak and finishing in wine (like the Galileo). But then, I am usually OK with wine finishing in other peated whiskies - such as the Diagio Distillers Editions.

@Onibubba oh neato! Which Diageo Distillers did you like?

@Onibubba, one judging panel's FINEST WHISKY IN THE WORLD is another man's 'falls short of "good" '. Such is the nature of personal taste.

@Victor Oh most certainly! There are a great many whiskies that just don't hit the mark with me, and whenever I throw my opinion into the squared circle, that is all it is - an opinion. I'd give the Galileo a solid low to mid 80's. Maybe, given some time, a second bottle will change my mind.

@BlissInABarrel Talisker and Clynelish. Really enjoyed the Talilsker. The Laga was good, but (here comes that pesky little word again) price over the normal 16 year is a bit much. Looking to try the Oban DE next.

Slightly off-topic, but just got back from Scotland where we visited Ardbeg distillery (a fantastic experiece) and had many new Ardbegs through the entire trip: Alligator, Day, Blasda, Still Young, Supernova 2010. Plus tasted Ardbeg 17 (amazing!) at Spirit of Toronto just before we left. An incredible distillery...

@talexander Sounds wonderful. I'll have to visit myself some day.

Hi all, I have only just discovered this thread. I only just acquired a bottle of Galileo, and came looking to see what others have thought of it.

I am an Ardbeg lover. My favourite is the Corry, just by a whisker, from the Ui. I am attracted to density and rich character. I don't look to whisky for light easy drinking or simple flavour profiles.

I like the Galileo very much. After 3 drams I am finding more and more subtle details. It is not as "in your face" largely because it is a lower ABV by a long way. But the complexity is still there.

It is a different kettle of fish to the Corry or Ui. I think comparisons are difficult given those differences. Like rating an apple against a banana. The Galileo is a fine dram.

Incidentally, I am on to my second bottle of Ardbog. Not sure what others think, but I think it is an absolute cracker. It has much greater mouthfeel and density than either the Ui or the Galilieo. I would rate it right up with the Corry.

1. Beist
2. Alligator
3. Galileo
4. Uigeadail
5. Corryvreckan
6. Ardbog
7. 10

Those are in order of preference. The number changed to bullets when I posted.

In Oregon, the Galileo costs about thirty more dollars, btw