ARDBEG - SINGLE MALT - OB - "KELPIE - BLACK SEA VIRGIN OAK" COMMITTEE RELEASE (US BOTTLING)

ARDBEG - SINGLE MALT - OB - "KELPIE - BLACK SEA VIRGIN OAK" COMMITTEE RELEASE (US BOTTLING) Released in 2017

Ardbeg Kelpie (Committee Release) was the star of Feis Ile 2017. Named after the mythical, shapeshifting water horse of Islay folklore. What makes this release highly unique is its maturation in Virgin Black Sea Oak casks (sourced from the Adygea Republic in Russia), married back with traditional ex-bourbon barrels. Compared to American white oak, the tight-grained Black Sea oak imparts a distinctly deep, savory, and heavily herbal dimension to Ardbeg’s classic profile.

The finish seems to last forever, leaving a lingering coat of tar, medicinal creosote, and bitter dark chocolate. A refreshing, cool hint of mint and salty pretzel remains on the tongue long after the smoke fades.