Ardbeg Uigeadahl

Ardbeg Uigeadail has been in Massachusetts for about a month now, at $66 per bottle at Table & Vine in Northampton

I was intensely looking forward to it, but now that I've tried it several times, I'm going to make sure my Ardbeg TEN supply lines are secure. The Uigeadail gets fine reviews (e.g., F. Paul Pacault really likes it, going so far as to call it an early candidate for whisky of the year), and it's way too soon to give up on it, but it just doesn't work that well for me thus far. In my personal opinion, which may well evolve over the next several months, it has way too little peat, too much unimpressive sherry, and the nose is rather hot (undiluted). I even get a peculiar (unwanted) sherry taste in the finish. Ah well, more for other folks: I love Ardbeg TEN and a number of other Ardbegs, so no problem. Hope you find it soon and like it! Slainte, Ed

Thanks, Ed! Can't help but feel a little disappointed by your review, but I'm looking forward to it anyway.

Well, as I say, maybe I will like it more as time goes by. You may like/love/adore/worship/whatever the Uigeadail, but I would suggest buying just one bottle and trying it for awhile: I bought several, taking a gamble I would love it, and now (buyer's remorse) I wish I had gotten Laphroaig 10 cask strength instead. Slainte, Ed

Well, if you are near Central Connecticut I can take one of those bottles off your hands!

This is all very disappointing to hear. I was really hoping that the Uigeadail was a step above the 10 Yr! Although by my own admission the 10 is one of my favorites. I haven't seen it yet in my favorite liquor which is one of the absolutely best stores on the east coast of the US. He says it wont be there yet for another week or so.

I guess, however, I'll buy a bottle and give it a try. btw, the Laphroaig cask strength is great.

Didn't mean to be a downer, and you may well love Uigeadail, but, like you, I count Ardbeg 10 as one of my favorites, so I was hoping the first affordable OB cask strength Ardbeg to reach the USA would be even more powerful/robust/peaty than the splendid Ardbeg 10. I have not yet opened my Laphroaig 10 CS, but I will soon. BTW, is the store you mention Town Wine & Spirits in Rumford (East Providence), RI? Great selection and prices, even with 7% RI sales tax. Slainte, Ed

powerful/robust/peaty

It is indeed that store. I just was there last week and spent a small fortune on some single malts. My wife was right behind me and did herself proud on her fair share of wine. When we left there ole Elliott was overjoyed, I'm sure. The down side is that we left for FL the next day and had to leave the SMS behind for another time as we flew and didn't drive. We'll be back soon however, and will enjoy a few very nice drams. Who knows maybe the Uigeadail will be in his store by then!!

In case you're interested this is what I picked up: Glenrothes 29YR Campbeltown Loch 25 YR Auchentoshan 21 YR Bowmore 14 YR Belvenie 12 YR Ardbeg 12 YR Laphroaig 16 YR

Dave -- to email me replace "spam" with "comcast"

Hope you and your wife enjoy FL! Very nice malt haul! The Campbeltown Loch 25 YR "reverse blend" I tried last year when Elliot suggested it, so I got 2 bottles ($50 & 7% tax each) and it was superb: nicely sherried, rich and deep. Great nose. I had one bottle at home and gave the other to a good friend, who loved it. I will probably go there in August and see how much Elliot can thin out my wallet (that place is great to shop in, but I'm glad it's more than a hundred miles away from me, otherwise ...) You did well indeed and I'm looking forward to hearing more details when you get to drinking them!

Funny thing about going to a really well stocked store. There is always the tension between wanting to buy old favorites, knowing they are guaranteed to please, and the adventure of trying new malts, to see if there is one out there that has your name (and palate) all over it. Over the years, I've gotten some outstanding malts at Elliot's. I always get some (to me) new malts (or IB expressions) and usually get a favorite at a very good price. I wish he had a web site, but next time I go, I think I'll take a digital camera and photograph what is on the shelves. Slainte, Ed

Has anyone else encountered this wonderful malt: Auchentoshan 21 YR, 1975 vintage, 55.4% ABV, bottled 1997, unchillfiltered, 750 ml bottle. It comes in a wooden box with sliding plexiglass front plate and is described as the "Official Distillery Archive". The back of the bottle says it is a vatting of 18 selected casks (with cask numbers and dates they were each filled). I got two bottles (at a great price even) and shared one with my group of malt drinking friends. We were all highly impressed: this completely changed what we thought lowland malts could achieve, and we've tried 3 different Rosebanks, etc. It is wonderfully sherried, not a sherry monster, but rather a sherry siren, amazingly seductive and, uncut, almost too easy to drink. No peat, but beautifully balance and lush. This bottling appeared about a year and a half ago, seemingly out of nowhere, and I have never seen any comments on it or reviews of it. I really regret now only getting two bottles and if I ever find it again, I will immediately buy it, regardless of price. This is why I keep taking a chance on new malts despite now having a fairly good idea what malts and distilleries are sure to please me. If you see this gem, I recommend it most highly. Slainte, Ed

I talked to Elliott about a web site. In fact, he said his brother in law was working on one for him but he decided at the last moment not to use it. He indicated that in talking to some of his peers, it caused too much of a hassle for them. I'll send you an email and tell you the other reason for not having one as well. At any rate, I don't think he needs the business from the looks of his stock and the rate that some of bottles leaving the store. I was really impressed with his stock. I think he said he had 2700 different wines in stock!! That is an amazing number to me. His store room certainly is impressive. I know he has over 300 single malts.

I know what you mean about the tension when going into a place like Elliott's. There is this desire to get all this new stuff against your old favorites that you're low on. Of course there is still the problem with the wallet getting low as well after leaving there!!

Slainte, Dave