🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

Definitely smoky and ashy like a typical Ardbeg but not much other aromas like citrusy, lemony, etc. I'm also missing the great sweetness of the best Ardbegs and thus it is rather too dry for me. Actually disappointing.

A good malt, round and balanced, but lacking the rough edges that would make it special.

Scores less than the Ardbog so far, but in direct comparison I like them both just as much. The casks make a big difference though.

reminds me of the Ardbeg Aligator because of the toasted oak - vanilla

[September, 2014]  I had another dram during an Ardbeg-Masterclass tasting at Bonn. In my old rating system (ten scales that translate into WB points: 50 - 66 - 75 - 80 - 82,5 - 85 - 87,5 - 90 - 92,5 - 95) I scored it 90.  I took no detailed notes as I knew it before.  But there is a little hint to fully enjoy this complex dram:  It demands a very long time of oxydation (about an hour in the open glass) to show its full beauty.  How did I found out?  A nice little story... I decided to open my first bottle of Auriverdes on the night of the Football WM final in Rio (because of the nice little three golden stars on the package - the German team fought for its fourth star while Argentina was eager to get its third...).  I said to myself I will have my first dram with the first goal scored (no matter what team).  You remember, there were no goals at all (except an off-side goal by Argentina in the first half).  So I got impatient over time, opened the bottle during the half-time break and poured a dram.  But I stayed strong and did not have the smallest sip (not even a nose). No goal in the second half either and even during the overtime it took quite a while until Mario Götze delivered me from the pain.  I took the first sip - and it was great!  Not just the whisky, but everything...  In this moment I would have scored the whisky 100 points (or even more) regardless of what whisky is in the glass at all, of course!  Nevertheless, this way I found out that after at least one hour in the open glass this dram significantly improves and shows a real complex and well balanced profile. Of course, no "oompf" in it at all (so all "oompf" lovers will score it rather low and this is absolutely okay as this is their taste preference) - but if you prefer a subtle yet rich dram try this little one hour experiment (and dream of your team will win the next final)...

Golden color. Oily structure.

N- Lime and lemon smokes, fresh and cooling. Eucalyptus, with sweet cherry and toffee. P- Creamy texture, subdue and closed on palate. Dominant sweet notes with spicy and leather overtone. F- Long, spicy coating, with a return of saltiness. — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.