Ardbeg Kildalton is the latest release from this Islay distillery. The name refers to the famous 1200 year-old cross and Ardbeg already used it for 1980/1981 vintage expressions released first in 2004. It was known for having an unusually low peat level.
The Kildalton 2014 release follows the same rules as most distilleries lately: no age statement, fancy packaging and a lot of story-telling to support it. It is created from bourbon and sherry casks.
Ardbeg Kildalton (46%, OB 2014)
Ardbeg Kildalton (46%, OB 2014)Nose: quite rounded. There’s clean soot and earthy smoke, but also honeyed notes and a slight vanilla edge to make it more gentle. Hints of dried apricot. A menthol / lemon combo in the back. Warm leather. Very subtle floral notes too. Definitely peatier than the original Kildalton, but you could say they share an idea of smoothness.
Mouth: fairly gentle and creamy, with the same biscuity sweetness. Then quickly more smoky and peaty, with some coal tar soap and earthy notes. Smoked pork. A few herbal notes before it is taken over by a big sweetness: caramel and latte with vanilla syrup. It does make it a bit flat and too sweet.
Finish: drier, with kippery notes, liquorice and soft medicinal notes.
I really like these smoother, gentler Ardbeg expressions, especially when they bring a hint of sherry to the mix. This new Kildalton has a great nose but looses some points on the palate. Originally around € 160. Not cheap at all for something that’s probably fairly young. Of course you could pay a lot more if you were trying to buy it a bit later. Now around € 250 in auctions.
Score: 86/100