Auriverdes is the latest edition of Ardbeg edition to be launched on 31st May on the distillery day at Feis Ile, Islay Festival of Music and Malt. The best opportunity to put your hand on that bottle is to be there that day!
Ardbeg Auriverdes – 49,9%
Auriverdes is the latest edition of Ardbeg edition to be launched on 31st May on the distillery day at Feis Ile, Islay Festival of Music and Malt. The best opportunity to put your hand on that bottle is to be there that day!
Last year, Ardbeg focused on peat and launched Ardbog as the Festival bottling. This year, Bill Lumsden, Director of distillation and whisky creation for Glenmorangie plc, has put the stress on wood. The 2014 limited edition has been matured in American oak casks with specially toasted cask lids which impart more toasted notes to the whisky.
The name of Ardbeg Auriverdes takes its roots in latin! Auri meaning gold and referring to the golden colour of the whisky and verdes (green) to the colour of the bottle.
The bottle sent to the journalists as a “sample, not for resale”, is covered with a golden coloured film! Auriverdes also hints to football. It is the nickname of the national football team of Brazil, host of this summer World Cup. Football will be the theme of Ardbeg Day for the festival with a peat football tournament to be held all over the world.
Auriverdes is bottled at 49,9%, without an age statement. A classic Ardbeg with a plus.
Colour: Bright gold with lime hues.
Nose: Intense, smoky with a light sooty note. Citrussy. Orange peel. Toasted coffee beans. Creamy. cappucino. Crème brûlée. Briny. Wet foulies. Opening on vanilla and more citrus. Séville oranges. A floral note swirls up. Freesia maybe. Frangipane, calisson (French pâtisserie). The sweet notes arrive after a while to counterbalance the dry peat/smoke/alcohol combination. Smoked meat (classic jewish sandwich). The alcohol is slightly biting. Water enhances herbalist notes.
On the hand: Old leather and smoke.
Taste: Raw silk texture. Sweet at first then drying on smoke and soot. Lots of liquorice. Tarry. Cough losanges. Fizzy on the tongue. Hint of toffee. Water cuts the edges, makes the mouth feel thicker and brings out toasted notes.
Finish: Sweet and fresh. Licorice lingers.
Comment: Classic Ardbeg with a plus. A richer texture. A pleasant toasted character.
Pairing: Beef and carrot stew; old matured crumbly gouda; almond milk bread and butter pudding with salted caramel sauce.