Whisky: Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Committee Release

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 50.2%

Cask: Oak

Age: Bottled 2023

Nose: Petrol and camphor with subtle nori, spirited and raw with a touch of acetone; earthier and funkier as it settles down with dried grass, leather, and cow paddies.

Palate: Medium-bodied with a mild oiliness, acrid and dirty, petrol and charred wood, old barbecue pits, leather, dried grass, earthy clay and barnyard, youthful and spirited with a touch of white pepper and camphor.

Finish: Medium-length and slightly bitter with herbs, dried grass, and charred wood.

Score: 5

Mental Image: Home on the Range

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was dirty and acrid with a raw, spirited prickle that attacked the senses. Camphor and nori provided an herbal-salty edge to the dirty petrol and acetone as earthy clay, fresh sawdust, and botanical spices developed. More time brought out more earth and a funky turn toward the barnyard with dried grass, hay, weathered leather, and cow paddies. Medium-bodied, though on the lighter end, with a mild oiliness, the flavor profile was spirited and youthful but more refined than the aroma. Acrid and dirty initially with petrol, charred wood, old barbecue pits, and toasted herbs. Dried grass and earthy class pulled in on the back end with barnyard funk, camphor, and subtle white pepper. The finish was medium-length and slightly bitter with herbs, dried grass, and charred wood.

I poured this as whisky #9 on our online whisky group’s holiday mystery advent calendar. I initially thought it was new-make, but the pale golden color could only be from at least some period in oak. Some of the notes, especially the herbal quality, remind me of Laphroaig, while the grass and funk pull me toward early Kilchoman. I went out on a limb and guessed this was a young whisky from Arran’s Lagg Distillery. I should have stayed closer to Islay as this was the Ardbeg Heavy Vapors Committee Release.

I do not have much to add… this had character, but boy, it felt young, raw, and rough. I hope Ardbeg held back additional casks, as I am curious how this might shift and change with age… or pair with something like a rum cask. As is, I did not particularly care for this, though it had its moments and a lovely earthy-grass quality.

Overall, not my cup of tea, but my wife enjoyed it quite a bit, though she reckoned for the price, there were plenty of other things she prefers.

Theme: End-of-Year Favorites

The theme this December 2023 is cleaning the house, and the reviews posted this month are either things I did not get a chance to slide into a theme week earlier this year, drams I have poured to celebrate the holidays and end of the school year, or as part of our online whisky group’s mystery dram advent calendar. These are posted in no particular order!