 | “Soup of the Day: Whiskey.” That was the inspirational phrase I saw when I first stepped into the Vietnamese Restaurant, East Borough in Culver City, CA. Delicious food aside, that phrase alone was enough to earn this restaurant 5 out of 5 stars in my book. If you think we are going to start an article with a hook and leave out the jabs, then you must be a MP virgin. As you may have guessed by now, our post today has something to do with Whisky! |
Noticed how we said Whisky and not Whiskey? That’s because our liquid gold today comes from the mystical land of Scotland. To make this even more special, the scotch we are reviewing today is by far one of my all time favorite elixirs of the Gods! I present to you Ardbeg Uigeadail.
In order for you to appreciate the Uigeadail, you must first come to understand the Ardbeg legacy. The Ardbeg distillery located on the south coast of Islay was founded in 1815 and has a lineage of two centuries. Throughout the two centuries, the distillery underwent numerous changes, including its ownership. As of today, LVMH Moët Hennessy (LVMH) now owns the Ardbeg brand.
As most of you might recall, during our Introduction to Whisk(e)y post, we outlined the various locations within Scotland in which whiskies are made. Based on the geographical location in relation to the climate, whiskies will develop unique flavors indigenous to their origin. In the case of Ardbeg, the distillery is located in Islay, the southernmost island in Scotland. Whiskies produced in this region are famous for their peaty smoky flavors. As an incorporation of its natural surroundings, the Ardbeg distillery draws its water 3 miles up the hill from Loch Uigeadail. The Ardbeg Uigeadail was named preciously after the dark and mysterious loch as homage.
In addition to the Ulgeadail, Ardbeg also features famous products such as Ardbeg Ten, Ardbeg Supernova, Ardbeg Auriverdes, just to name a few. Rest assure, MP will be providing reviews of all the spectacular drums in the coming future. Without going into too much detail, we’d also like to inform our readers of Ardbeg’s “Space Expedition”. Let’s just say space is the new frontier and Ardbeg is leading the way!
So let’s extract this liquid gold…
Sight
The term liquid gold isn’t an overstatement or an understatement, but simply a descriptive statement for the Uigeadail. When pouring this elixir from it’s dark green vessel, what you get is a rich and glistening gold waterfall. Given that the Uigeadail is non-chill filtered, the visible liquid gives off a rich and oily texture. A quick swirl within the glass leaves slow trickles of gold trails. The visual alone is enough to leave one’s mouth salivating.
Smell
If you’ve ever had Scotch from the Islay region, then you are familiar with that unforgettable note of smoke. What makes the Uigeadail extra special is the delightful aroma of vanilla and caramel hidden within the intense cloud of peaty goodness. Once you get passed the powerful odor of smoke and nostril-tingling spice, you’ll start to uncover a much softer note of fruity sweetness. The Uigeadail is so rich with flavors that the smell can only be described as a multi-layer cake, with each layer revealing a new flavor.
Taste
With an ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of 54.2%, the Uigeadail can be quite intense for the inexperienced scotch drinkers. Depending on your preference (or experience level), you can enjoy this masterpiece over ice or with droplets of water, just don’t over do it. For my personal preference, I chose to enjoy my Uigeadail in its purest form, neat. The initial intake of the liquid brings my taste buds to life with the sharp and intense blend of alcohol, smoke, and spice. Once you get passed the first phase, you’ll start to pick up a sweet and fruity flavor that leaves your taste buds questioning their own sexuality. As you swallow the alcohol, you’ll notice a couple things: 1) a light warm sensation trickling down your tongue, which in turn 2) sends a smoky aroma back up your internal vent to your mouth and nostrils. 3) Lastly, you are left with the lingering flavors of subtle dryness and delicious fruity sweetness. This unique interplay of yin-yang flavors leaves one’s palate mouthwatering and wanting more!
Simply giving a description of the sight, smell, and taste doesn’t do justice to the amazing Uigeadail. After all, the purpose for drinking whisky is to appreciate the fine art put into making this magical beverage. If I were to summarize my experience with the Uigeadail with one word, it would be Nostalgia. There is just something about taking a sip of the drink, being exposed to an explosion of flavors, then inhaling the cloud of aromas and staring into the rich gold liquid that triggers a soothing memory of great conversations around a warm campfire. There is just something magical about the Ardbeg Uigeadail that always brings a satisfying smile to my face every time I enjoy it.
No matter if you are a whisky connoisseur, a collector, an alcoholic, or someone who simply appreciates a good time, we HIGHLY recommend giving this liquid gold a try!
by ManPossible
In order for you to appreciate the Uigeadail, you must first come to understand the Ardbeg legacy. The Ardbeg distillery located on the south coast of Islay was founded in 1815 and has a lineage of two centuries. Throughout the two centuries, the distillery underwent numerous changes, including its ownership. As of today, LVMH Moët Hennessy (LVMH) now owns the Ardbeg brand.
As most of you might recall, during our Introduction to Whisk(e)y post, we outlined the various locations within Scotland in which whiskies are made. Based on the geographical location in relation to the climate, whiskies will develop unique flavors indigenous to their origin. In the case of Ardbeg, the distillery is located in Islay, the southernmost island in Scotland. Whiskies produced in this region are famous for their peaty smoky flavors. As an incorporation of its natural surroundings, the Ardbeg distillery draws its water 3 miles up the hill from Loch Uigeadail. The Ardbeg Uigeadail was named preciously after the dark and mysterious loch as homage.
In addition to the Ulgeadail, Ardbeg also features famous products such as Ardbeg Ten, Ardbeg Supernova, Ardbeg Auriverdes, just to name a few. Rest assure, MP will be providing reviews of all the spectacular drums in the coming future. Without going into too much detail, we’d also like to inform our readers of Ardbeg’s “Space Expedition”. Let’s just say space is the new frontier and Ardbeg is leading the way!
So let’s extract this liquid gold…
Sight
The term liquid gold isn’t an overstatement or an understatement, but simply a descriptive statement for the Uigeadail. When pouring this elixir from it’s dark green vessel, what you get is a rich and glistening gold waterfall. Given that the Uigeadail is non-chill filtered, the visible liquid gives off a rich and oily texture. A quick swirl within the glass leaves slow trickles of gold trails. The visual alone is enough to leave one’s mouth salivating.
Smell
If you’ve ever had Scotch from the Islay region, then you are familiar with that unforgettable note of smoke. What makes the Uigeadail extra special is the delightful aroma of vanilla and caramel hidden within the intense cloud of peaty goodness. Once you get passed the powerful odor of smoke and nostril-tingling spice, you’ll start to uncover a much softer note of fruity sweetness. The Uigeadail is so rich with flavors that the smell can only be described as a multi-layer cake, with each layer revealing a new flavor.
Taste
With an ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of 54.2%, the Uigeadail can be quite intense for the inexperienced scotch drinkers. Depending on your preference (or experience level), you can enjoy this masterpiece over ice or with droplets of water, just don’t over do it. For my personal preference, I chose to enjoy my Uigeadail in its purest form, neat. The initial intake of the liquid brings my taste buds to life with the sharp and intense blend of alcohol, smoke, and spice. Once you get passed the first phase, you’ll start to pick up a sweet and fruity flavor that leaves your taste buds questioning their own sexuality. As you swallow the alcohol, you’ll notice a couple things: 1) a light warm sensation trickling down your tongue, which in turn 2) sends a smoky aroma back up your internal vent to your mouth and nostrils. 3) Lastly, you are left with the lingering flavors of subtle dryness and delicious fruity sweetness. This unique interplay of yin-yang flavors leaves one’s palate mouthwatering and wanting more!
Simply giving a description of the sight, smell, and taste doesn’t do justice to the amazing Uigeadail. After all, the purpose for drinking whisky is to appreciate the fine art put into making this magical beverage. If I were to summarize my experience with the Uigeadail with one word, it would be Nostalgia. There is just something about taking a sip of the drink, being exposed to an explosion of flavors, then inhaling the cloud of aromas and staring into the rich gold liquid that triggers a soothing memory of great conversations around a warm campfire. There is just something magical about the Ardbeg Uigeadail that always brings a satisfying smile to my face every time I enjoy it.
No matter if you are a whisky connoisseur, a collector, an alcoholic, or someone who simply appreciates a good time, we HIGHLY recommend giving this liquid gold a try!
by ManPossible
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