2022 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 24

Day 24... end of the road. And today... Ardbeg!!! We're having the 2022 Ardbeg special release - Ardcore. This is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky coming in at 46% ABV. The last two Ardbeg special releases were not very special in my opinion, let's see how this one is.

The nose on this is amazing. Sweet BBQ Meat, peat, smoke, some brine, some black petter. I sat with this for at least 10 minutes just smelling it. Fantastic. The taste is a bit of a let down, but really - it would have been hard to match the nose. I get pepper, sweet and meaty, some smoke and earthy peat. The taste is a bit thin compared to the nose... I get a hint of vanilla too. The finish is effervescence along with some heat that lingers a long time. It's a bit weak at first, but I do get some earthy peat, a little bit of pepper and some brine.

With water, it's sweeter on the nose, some mint in the back too. The taste is similar while the finish is more spicy - this is good with or without water. The nose on this fantastic - but the taste and finish is a step back. Overall it's very good. Rated 4.25/5.0 - cheers!!!