This is the new 'Ardbeg Day' version of the NAS Perpetuum. I find it funny to use a name that implies a notion of eternity, or at least of old age, while doing an 'unaged' (I know) version. Or maybe is that extremely smart. Colour: white wine. Nose: simpler and narrower than the Angelshare, with less depth, and probably a little less flaws (no pine-y notes, no washing powder). It's relatively light, but there's good peat smoke, coated with a little vanilla. A very light medicinal touch (eucalyptus). I find it nice, simple, and rather gentle for Ardbeg, despite the high smoke. Mouth: full, immediate, ashy and smoky, with sweeter fruits and vanilla in the back. I seem to feel a rather young spirit (the white fruits) and some slightly prominent oak (tea tannins, vanilla, white pepper). Other than that, it's lightly medicinal and briny, but less tarry/phenolic than older bottlings, while the Angelshare still had a bit of that. Anyway, I find it very good. Finish: rather long, and pretty saltier and brinier. Olive brine and white mezcal - which, again, is good in my book. Comments: that's the problem with NAS, you can't help trying to guess the ages of these babies. Bah, all we can be sure of with an NAS is that it’s 3 years old. As for scores, it's a tie. I think the Perpetuum is simpler but the 'easy straightforwardness' is pleasant, and the smoke is well Ardbeggian. I’m pleased.
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It was about 5 years ago that a lot of distilleries on the south coast of Islay celebrated their bicentennial. And by a lot I mean all three of them.
Lagavulin released their 8 year old which I thought was pretty shit. Laphroaig released their 15 year old which I thought was rather great.
Now I finally write a review to Ardbeg’s take on a 200th birthday. I wrote the review quite a while ago, but decided to finally publish my notes. No particular reason, just because I found them…
Ardbeg Perpetuum
Image from Whiskybase
Ardbeg Perpetuum is a combination of bourbon and sherry casks. This, at least, is good. No weird wine casks or some cask from a 200 year old rotten tree taken from a peat bog next to the distillery or something. Also not a toothpick with whisky that’s been to space, or such nonsense.
Sniff:
Gentle and smoky. There’s some grass and straw. Fairly simple, with oak, and a hint of dry white wine. A bit sauvignon blanc like.
Sip:
Sharper than the nose made me expect. A bit of alcohol, wood and straw. Smoky of course with hints of salt and sea weed.
Swallow:
Quite some oak and largely the same flavors as on the palate.
Well, I’m not sure what happened here. Even reading my tasting notes makes me want to take a nap, and I guess that’s how I feel about the whisky. It’s not actually bad, but it’s just very, very boring. There’s nothing happening here that makes me want to drink this instead of either the regular 10 years old, the Corryvreckan or the Uigeadail.
Especially that last one, which is a lot cheaper than the Perpetuum, is a stellar whisky. So, no, I wouldn’t pay twice the money for something as forgettable as this.
