Pronounced ‘Oog-a-dal’, it’s a special vatting that marries Ardbeg’s traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks. Ardbeg Uigeadail was voted by the 120,000+ strong Ardbeg Committee as their favourite Ardbeg.
Non chill-filtered at 54.2% ABV.
AROMA
Rich and weighty with heady and smoky aromatics. At full strength, the initial aroma is a beguiling mix of warm Christmas cake, walnut oil and parma violets fused with fresh ocean spice, cedar and pine needles falling from the Christmas tree. A smouldering coal fire and the scent of well-oiled leather brings warmth. The sweetness of treacle toffees and chocolate-coated raisins emerge through the smoke. With water, the deep smokiness increases in intensity, reminiscent of a fired Christmas pudding. Rich flowering currants and warm baked banana and walnut bread are served with simmering mocha espresso.
TASTE
Full flavoured and rich with a deep mouth-coating texture, the taste is an intriguing balance between sweet, spicy and deep smoky flavours. The flavour is initially sweet. A burst of winter spices sets off a smoky-spicy explosion countered by a sumptuous mid-palate of honey glazed smoked food and chewy treacle. Waves of deep smoky tones and rich aromas build up on the palate like a fine Montecristo cigar.
FINISH
Amazingly long and chewy with lingering raisiny, deep mocha tones and rich aromatic smoke into the perfectly integrated finish.
Review 71 2nd August 2020
Our review of Ardbeg Uigeadial is with thanks to Adam @amn74and Johny @Whiskyjohny who both sent samples for us to try. Due to a technical issue we were unable to bring a video review as usual, instead we have created possibly the first and last 'Marks Malt Morsel Muster Minute' summarising our thoughts about this Islay Malt.
We have been tasting this dram over a few days, trying it neat, then leaving it to sit and open, adding water and then adding more water, to try and experience what this malt has to offer.
Bottled at 54.2% ABV, it is non chill filtered and natural colour. A non age statement malt from Ardbegs core range, it has an average retail price of £54.95 and is widely available online and in specialist local retailers. With a value score of 96.64 out of 100, it represents a good value Islay malt bottled at a decent alcohol strength.
A vatting of Ardbegs smoky ex-bourbon casks together with ex-sherry, it promises to be a smoky fruit explosion. Ardbeg mention on their website that this is voted the top whisky by committee members.
On the nose; There is straight away a strong nip of alcohol. The first impression is of a musty note like a damp room filled with dusty books. There is intense peat, brine and sea air. The fruit quickly follows with rich vanilla and spice. There is also something else, an unexpected note of maybe creosote.
On the palate; It is medium sweet, like honey dissolved in warm water. The texture is oily and silky, this could benefit from water. It is smoky, like a pile of still smouldering damp ash. There is aged fruit that have started to turn and have lost their juiciness, bringing a little touch of mustiness. Its bitter and spicy, mouth drying and hot with alcohol nip.
With added water, on the nose, its as before but now the creosote is more like tar, the musty note changes to a more earthy one. The smoke presents more strongly and the vanilla shows up more prominently.
Palate with Water; There is a lovely sweet peat, more smoke which gives more of a stale sweat when the brine note mixes. Its bitter with espresso coffee and oak. The finish is bitter and with spice it goes on a while.
Even more water; nose shows a really sweet peat but with citrus fruit, heather honey, tobacco, mint and almost menthol. Drying tarmac.
Even more water; palate has a diluted tropical juice of pineapple and mango and smoked bacon shows.
Even though some of the notes on the nose and palate don't seem too appealing, like creosote and sweat! This is a most enjoyable dram. While it can be had neat, we found that diluting it down to around 46% brings out the best of this malt and is the correct level. Futher dilution reveals scotch mist but is a step too far, but could be the preferred level for those that want to tone back the smoke to a more tolerable level.
For an overall score we thought we would enjoy this more than the Ardbeg 10 year old, expecting the sherry influence to have greater dark fruit impact, however, we enjoyed this just as much and found it hard to differentiate when scoring. We give it an overall score of 89 out of 100. Give it more of sherry impact and this would cruise into the 90's.
This is definitely a bottle that any smoky whisky fan would enjoy and we recommend trying it, however, given our experience of diluting to 46% and the price, we would grab a bottle of the 10 year old before this Uigeadail.