This one always suffered from the comparison with the stunning 20 yo 1981/2002 sherry, even if the Diageo people always claimed that this Bourbon version was better. But the customer is king, and the king prefers the sherry version, period ;-). But let’s try this ‘bourbon’ again now… Colour: dark straw (lighter than the 18 yo – maybe less caramel). Nose: much less mellow than the 18yo, and less expressive too. Somewhat austere. Woody, smoky and peppery. Gets grassy – freshly cut hay, fern. Develops on vanilla stick and pepper. Beer, apple skin. A bold and ‘peppery’ peat then takes control. A very nice nose, even if not really explosive. Notes of apple compote emerging after a few minutes. Mouth: again, a big, bold malt. Lots of interesting medicinal aromas: camphor, propolis, tar. Develops on liquorice stick, ashes, pepper. Again, very austere, getting nicely bitter (quinquina, Campari). This one takes no prisoners, and makes almost all Ardbegs taste sweetish. Finish: very long but rather elegant, again on pepper and wood.

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