Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release
2022-12-18As usual for Ardbeg, this Committee Release Malt is only available for purchase directly from Ardbeg on Ardbeg Day. Probably, very few bottles actually make it to the tasting - most will probably stand locked in collector's cabinets.
Smell
The opening is, as expected, biting. Intense BBQ and campfire aromas. A certain meaty, tar-like quality is rounded out by sweet vanilla notes. For us, the malt is (unusually for Ardbeg) slightly medicinal.
Taste
The taste is - after smelling - surprisingly sweet. Vanilla and caramel nestle with intense oak and the taste of burnt toast. Dryness and pepper spice complement the sweetness on the palate.
Finish
The intense Scorch stays in the mouth for a long time. Intensely woody with smoke and ash, it becomes a bit rubbery at the back.
Thoughts
The Scorch is a rock-solid, but also quite unusual Ardbeg. The unreasonably high price is unfortunately not determined by the bottle's content, but by hype, artificial scarcity and a good marketing story. Clearly a collector's product.
Rating: 76/100 - Very Good (Marcel: 69 | Sascha: 83)
Value for Money: 2/5 - Expensive
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