Ardbeg 26 Year Old Bot.2019 Kinship

Firstly, Made in 1992 at Ardbeg distillery, this Islay single malt was matured in a single refill hogshead for more than a quarter of a century, before being bottled by Hunter Laing for the 2019 release of its Kinship Collection. Salty sea breeze aromas fill the nose, alongside earthy peat and crispy seaweed. The palate offers notes of rich toffee, marzipan, burning heather, sea salt, black pepper and lemon.

Further, Some sources wrote that this was a 1992, others that it is a 1991, so let’s claim it is a 1991.5. And why not? Colour: white wine. Nose: I find it very unusual, very grassy and sour, almost on sauce béarnaise at first (tarragon, chervil, shallot, butter) but the expected hessian, tar and just seawater are soon to take over. Now some kind of curry-mayonnaise-y notes remain there while crabs and langoustines are approaching too. I love this, a lot of action and difference. Ardbeg 26 Year Old Bot.2019 Kinship

Moreover, The salt of life. Mouth: it is really very singular. More tangerines and even litchis, with a kind of fake softness (you would believe it’s soft at times but it kicks you back) then some kind of tarry mustard. Wondering whether some kind of *** chef hasn’t been working on this hogshead. Heston Blumenthal? Finish: medium to long, always with this funny smoky mustard. Shallots in the aftertaste. Quite. Comments: a little disturbing here and there but in the end of the day, it’s a stunning, softer dram. It’s just that there probably isn’t any other of exactly the same kind around (although I wouldn’t hold my breath in that department).