Ardbeg Perpetuum: Ardbeg Day has come and gone and 2015 brought a 200th anniversary celebration to the Islay dram. Every Ardbeg Day, a new limited edition whisky is released to eager Ardbeggians around the world and this year promised to bring a taste of “Ardbeg’s past, present and future”.
I particularly liked the teasers showing a robotic arm holding up a bottle of Ardbeg Perpetuum with its striking silver label against the dark green bottle. But marketing and aesthetics aside, what does the liquid taste like?
Past Ardbeg Day editions have not left a great mark particularly Ardbog and to a limited extent, Ardbeg Auriverdes. I enjoy Ardbeg for its strong hit of peat and smoke and if that’s been subdued, it’s no longer a dram I reach out for in my liquor cabinet. So how did Ardbeg Perpetuum rate?
Ardbeg Perpetuum Tasting Notes
- Country of Origin: Islay, Scotland
- ABV: 47.4%
- Age: NAS
- Colour: pale straw
- Nose: the peat smoke starts soft but the iodine and briny characters are present, vanilla, citrus and some honey
- Palate: big smoky notes upfront develop into notes of iodine, brine, charcoal and some honey
- Finish: medium to long, lingers with a briny finish
Comments: A complex whisky that far outweighs the previous two Ardbeg Day expressions. The salty finish after the smoky notes make it a most enjoyable Ardbeg. I’m not entirely convinced that this is a taste of Ardbeg’s past, present and future. I imagine the original expressions were far more robust and earthy. Overall, this is a great single malt. Don’t just buy it to add to the collection. Buy it to drink now.
