Ardbeg 1978, Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon & Macphail, Old Map Label, 40% abv.

Nose: super young white wine, white grape juice that went wrong, some spices, star anise, cinnamon, after awhile I get washcloths, but it transforms to moderate levels of toast, honey, and vanilla.

Palate: smooth, semi-oily, initial palate is like melted salted butter, mid palate is a little sweet, a little like meat juice but quite subtle, back palate has smoked wood, peat, a little bit of salt.

Finish: short to medium, toast, smoked wood, light vanilla, a little spicey.

Dry glass: light wax and light toast.

Old Ardbeg is different, more oily, less salty, subtle smoke. Flavors were there and pretty good at such a low abv. The back palate is interesting because thats when the peat smoke appears, but before that I never would have suspected, it's generally a light buttery steak juice before that. Interestingly, the oiliness kinda disappears quickly.

Grade: B+

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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