[JMtimes5]

Originally Posted by Guybrush

It’s a solid (one time) annual Ardbeg release. I think I prefer the Pinot flavors with a smoky whisky like this to the port/sherry flavors some of the other distilleries try for. Port/sherry notes are awesome in many whiskies—if you’ve never had one of the ported Speysides, you owe it to yourself to try the Balvenie 21-year-old Port Wood—it’s worth the price!—but with smoky whisky, I just don’t know. Highland Park manages it really well with the 18, and the Glenfarclas 25 melds those flavors too (less smoke, more sherry) but other attempts have been... meh. But this Pinot barrel dram from Ardbeg was a winner, in my view, and I’m not always a fan of them—a lot of marketing hype and tacky special releases. Their new 5-year-old isn’t bad, though—may be one of the better whiskies at the price point.

Thanks for the tip!
Cheers!