Review: Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Islay single malt scotch Cask Strength
So this is a cask strength scotch; a single malt fron the Islay region of Scotland. Ardbeg makes famously peaty and oily scotches, in fact some of the most phenolic deliveries around. ABV = 57.1% so be prepared. I personally can't stomach those who dilute a cask strength with water. Sack up and drink it as is.
Notes: huge peat and oil themes, slick on the tongue. Very faint cloves, and almost indiscernible Tremendous mouthfeel. Burn is muted by near-hickory and char notes that are difficult to translate. Faint apple on the nose, but totally ephemeral - just sets you up for the oil delivery. Wonderful peppery burn on the lips; the high ABV guarantees same. Sweet slick alcohol, a marriage of woody cinnamon and superior cognac (e.g. Pierre Ferrand - I can review these later if the board wants) on the back end - but again so fleeting due to the astronomical ABV. Fourth sip is so smooth; this is just a tremendous drink. Has turned velvety-pins and the ABV makes it a near ghost-pepper on the lips. That said I know how to blunt and sweeten it: give me a moment to light a Rocky Patel 1992 (cigar)...
So I've lit and had a few draws on the RP; it's transformed the Corryvreckan into a much sweeter - in fact bordering on cloying - exercise. That said, let's give it time: no scotch of this caliber will be cowed by a twirl of tobacco.
Back at it. Less sweet; had several bites of thick cowboy ribeye: closer to rare than medium rare, I'd be happy to share my steak algorithm with interested parties: just let me know! The RP is mellowing the Corry nicely. I'm now extracting some tea notes - the Chinese "gunpowder" pellets come to mind.
Time to extract the deeper secrets of the Corryvreckan; heading outside onto my deck to drink in the cold crisp fall airs and watch the (slowly rebuilding) brown bat population pick off the motheringcocksucking mosquitos... valiant bodyguards to the end, my fluttering friends.
Emptied the proper crystal tumbler, a full rendering requires a third "two fingers" pour.
Nose yields bark-apple with the slightest hints of pear, but better yet the tumbler ensconced in warm hands offers the same woody cinnamon notes along with something leathery (leathery yet snappy, reminds me of Devo's "Whip It" video): this is just an awesome experience. Frankly, I love good scotch...
I'm off to finish the RP 92 and a fair bit of Corryvreckan. The Corry is just a great cask strength and well worth the price point of $89.99 / bottle - totally reasonable given that this is pure unalduterated awesomesauce.
I hope folks read this review and if it resonates please post affirmatively; I have a retinue of retinae (a thousand eyes and one for the ASOIAF readers) to deploy in these pursuits.
Enjoy and indulge -
- MCC
