On the occasion of 200 years of the Ardbeg distillery, they launched Perpetuum. It’s a mix of “very old” and young Ardbeg, from both bourbon barrels and sherry casks.
There has been a Distillery release at 49,2% but we’re trying the wider release at 47,4%.
Ardbeg Perpetuum ∞
(47,4%, OB 2015)
Ardbeg Perpetuum ∞Nose: quite warm, with deep sooty notes and some simmering ashes. Hints of wet tarmac. On the other side there is enough honey, vanilla and chocolate to make it rounder. Some candied lemon, as well as a few floral notes. It’s not very complex and seemingly less intense than the standard 10, but I love its balance.
Mouth: oily but less elegant, it comes through instantly, showing raw peat smoke, chili pepper and oak. Ginger. Settles down after a while. Still a chocolate coating and some youngish pear drops underneath. Hints of grapefruit and dried seaweed towards the end.
Finish: long, full of saltwater, herbal notes and tequila.
It’s good. Not eternally good, but one of the better Ardbeg Day releases, I think. It combines a balanced nose and plenty of strong smoke on the palate. Between € 95 and € 150, depending on the greediness of your retailer.
Score: 87/100