Ardbeg Grooves is the celebratory product that the distillery puts on the market for the occasion of the Feis Ile, festival held on the island of Islay. Unlike the other distilleries on the island, Ardbeg offers a rather large number of bottles and a massive distribution all over the globe. There are two versions, the Committee Release, dedicated to members of the fan club, and the general edition, we are going to review.
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TASTING NOTES ARDBEG GROOVES
Nose: rather pungent initially. Peat is joined by various undefined spices. The sugary and vanilla part is quite determined and turns to burnt caramel and brown sugar. Very fine hints of citrus, lime and lemon.
Palate: a good intensity right from the start: peated notes, smoke and spices (mainly black pepper). It then proceeds again with burned caramel notes, which direct the palate towards invasive bitter aromas.
Finish: of medium-long persistence. Complexity is limited. Peat, black pepper, ash and the omnipresent caramel are perceivable.
This Grooves lacks complexity, paired with a not particularly large and balanced aromatic palette. The entire core-range of the distillery is qualitatively higher.
Rating: 83