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This mystery single malt is named for a locale on the south coast of Islay's Mull of Oa, which overlooks Kilnaughton Bay across from Port Ellen. Lots of speculation on where this whisky comes from, but the name has us thinking Ardbeg... Kilnaughton sounds awful similar to Kildalton, the famous ruined kirk just down the track from the distillery! Bottled at 53.5% after maturing in a Rioja Wine Cask from Spain. 88pts Whisky Base
700 mlProducer Tasting Note
Nose: Intense peat smoke with black cherries and dried figs.
Palate: Oily smoke with ashes of the fire. Old leather upholstery with pipe tobacco. Juicy sweet malt with prunes.
Finish: Long and lingering smoke.
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Evan here - I am not going to get into Ardbeg’s history or location or ownership too much. It is old, and it is on Islay. To say more is to preach to the choir for the most part. If you are keen to know more, just mispronounce the name as ‘Ardberg’ within the hearing of Andrew or Curt. You will quickly be corrected and then likely be given the chronological timeline of the distillery in question as well as a thorough essay on why it is perhaps the best distillery on Islay, if not in Scotland itself.
Anyhow. For a relatively small distillery, Ardbeg’s releases have become relatively prolific over the past few years. The distillery can boast about having the most rabid fan base in the world of Single Malt Scotch, and many of its releases correlate with this. Just about every limited edition bottle of Ardbeg is released to Ardbeg Committee Members first. Membership is free and allows you to find out when the next Ardbeg Limited Release is, well, released.
The core range of Ardbeg is strong. If you like you want a taste of what all of the fuss is about when it comes to Ardbeg, the regular Ardbeg 10-Year-Old is a great place to start. If you want a bottle that is a wee bit sweeter and goes in a few more directions when it comes to flavour profile, Ardbeg An Oa should suit you. The combination of peat Sherry is your thing? Then go for the Ardbeg Uigeadail. If you want the Ardbeg-ness of Ardbeg dialled up to 11, go for the Corryvreckan. And now, if you find yourself craving a release of Ardbeg that has an age statement, but you already have the Ardbeg 10, you can go for the Wee Beastie!
The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. is an Independent Bottler, that owns the Cooper's Choice, Finlaggan & Ileach brands, to name just a few. We have always been impressed with not only the quality of liquid from the Vintage Malt Whisky Co., but also the value their brands offer. Their price to age and quality ration is almost second to none. The Ileach Cask Strength has been our best selling Islay whisky for nearly a decade!
Producer Self Description Follows
Vintage Malt was founded in 1992 by Brian Crook, after many years in the whisky industry as Export Director for one of Scotland’s best known distillers. His aim was to produce a range of malt whiskies from his country’s finest distilleries and make them available to independent wine and spirit importers throughout the world.
Brian’s approach proved so popular with customers that, 25 years on, the company has exported more than 10 million bottles of malt whisky to more than 30 countries across the world, and is now recognised as one of Scotland’s leading independent bottlers.
The brands owned by Highlands & Islands Scotch Whisky Co joined the group in 1997, and in 2005 the company acquired CS James & Sons, producers of Islay Storm.
The group’s award winning brands include Finlaggan, The Ileach, and Islay Storm, all single malts from the island of Islay on the west coast of Scotland and The Cooper’s Choice, a superb range of single cask bottlings.
$79.99
It is back and exclusive to KWM in Calgary again, bottled at 58%. The Ileach Cask Strength is a mystery malt from Islay. In other words, the distillery of origin is a mystery but, look closely at the label, and you'll see a couple of clues: the distillery has its own bay, presumably passable on only the one side; it's water-front has a distinct appearance; and could that be the ruins of the Dunyvaig Castle on the far right? Lagging behind and not understanding our not-so-subtle hints on which distillery this could be? Fear not - this is what makes Mystery Malts so much fun.
$79.99
Believed to be Caol Ila, the whisky is bottled at a cask strength of 58%. Finlaggan is an Islay mystery malt named for the most historically significant site on Islay. Loch (lake) Finlaggan--named after St. Findulgan who is believed to have brought Christianity to Islay--and its islands were the political and social capital of the Lord's of the Isles, who ruled the Western Isles of Scotland for over 400 years. Finlaggan Cask Strength is put together by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company, whom are also responsible for the Cooper's Choice and Ileach lineup. It is bottled at a batch strength of 58% ABV.
