Ardbeg 8 Years Old is a bold, smoky single malt made for the true peat lover. Packed with intense notes of burnt treacle, salted caramel, aniseed, and smoky bacon, it finishes with a long hint of peppermint and smoke. Originally crafted as an exclusive for the Ardbeg Committee, it's a challenging yet rewarding dram.
Tasting Note by Ardbeg:
Nose: Intense with a burst of charcoal, creosote, tar and treacle toffee, with curious hints of something vegetal, like fennel, celery and green peppers. Once these subside, there are hints of milk chocolate, aniseed and woodsmoke. With a little drop of water, some more herbal notes appear, like fennel, coriander and lavender, along with some characteristic Ardbeg aromatic woodsmoke and a hint of fresh, salty sea spray.
Palate: A distinctively peppery mouthfeel eases into a complex symphony of flavours; treacle toffee, aniseed, salted caramel chocolate, eucalyptus, menthol and briar wood, to name but a few. The ‘tingling’, peppery sensation on the palate continues, with the sweeter flavours giving way to more savoury notes like charcoal, smoked bacon, burnt toast and tar.
Finish: The aftertaste is long and lingering, with a suggestion of peppermint and clove.