We waited too much. It’s been ten days since the official launch, so it’s time to taste the most-awaited (?) whisky of the summer, the annual Ardbeg release. This time, the clever ones from Louis Vuitton marketing department choose to exploit the World Cup taking place in Brazil. Apart from any considerations, we do our job and we remind you that the National football team’s shirt is gold & green (Auriverdes…), that the whisky is golden (Auri…) and the Ardbeg bottle is green (verdes…). Being a creation by the distillery manager Bill Lumdsen, the whisky is cleverly manufactured: “I wanted chocolate, vanilla and coffee – he said – and I got it”. It’s matured in American oak casks, toasted at different levels. The colour? Auri, of course.
N: after the last disappointing special and (more or less) limited releases, finally Ardbeg chooses to bottle an Ardbeg tasting like an Ardbeg. It’s definitely maritime and iodine, increasingly medicinal, with a chiseled smokiness, pronounced but not almighty. There’s a nice citrusy note Aspirin-like, loads of lime and a bourbon sweetness pleasantly open (warm pastry, coconut and chocolate, not particularly bitter). It’s also slightly minty, with a suggestion of Valda pastilles. Even talcum powder.
P: not completely consistent with the nose. That islander profile lacks a bit of ease and shows its “engineered” character. There’s a stronger oaky sweetness in the foreground. It’s pleasant, but it seems to rest on weak legs. The medicinal/marine side is lost, it remains a lime suggestion. The sweetness increases further: vanilla, licorice, chocolate, cane sugar. Towards the end, a peppery hint. Talking about peat: it’s gentle and soft, but tough.
F: long and persistent. Even here the smoke is not overwhelming as in other Ardbegs, but it bows to that sweetness… Surprise: a touch of bacon.
It’s a good whisky, comparing to Ardbeg Day, Galileo and Ardbog. A decent entry-level, well built and well balanced, even if the palate nonchalantly shows a naive use of wood. But we don’t want to overly complain: 86/100, successful experiment. Frankly, we’d be willing to pay it half of its cost (95/100 euro).
PS. We’re always critical of the controversial marketing strategies by Ardbeg, but we must admit the official launch of Auriverdes was highly entertaining: nice merchandising, wonderful location (Museo Diocesano in Milan), open bar. Thank you guys! PPS. Since we are a pain in the ass, we also regret the whisky hasn’t been properly described: a two words presentation or even a flyer would have been enough…
Recommended soundtrack: Guns N Roses – Welcome to the jungle.
