What is the Scotch equivelant?

**Liam** · 4th August 13, 02:02 PM

My son treated me to a wee dram of "Ardbog" a couple of days ago. A very interesting concoction of traditional Islay peat with fruitiness from what I would generally find in a Speyside... a complex dram that I enjoyed very much.

**mookien** · 4th August 13, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Liam

My son treated me to a wee dram of "Ardbog" a couple of days ago. A very interesting concoction of traditional Islay peat with fruitiness from what I would generally find in a Speyside... a complex dram that I enjoyed very much. ...

Ardbog may be the Ardbeg distillery's attempt to penetrate the "younger" market.

A number of distilleries, especially on Islay, whose peaty whiskys generally appeal to the more experienced (older) malt drinker, have recently (in the past few years) "designed" fruitier/sweeter malts that they hope will be taken up by less experienced tipplers. Bruichladdich's entry in this category (or their first one, anyway) was ROCKS.

Of course, that doesn't mean that us old guys can't drink them or won't like them. I drink and like ROCKS. It's just a bit pricey for me.

**artificer** · 4th August 13, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by mookien

Ardbog may be the Ardbeg distillery's attempt to penetrate the "younger" market.

A number of distilleries, especially on Islay, whose peaty whiskys generally appeal to the more experienced (older) malt drinker, have recently (in the past few years) "designed" fruitier/sweeter malts that they hope will be taken up by less experienced tipplers. Bruichladdich's entry in this category (or their first one, anyway) was ROCKS.

Of course, that doesn't mean that us old guys can't drink them or won't like them. I drink and like ROCKS. It's just a bit pricey for me.

not quite, Ardbog is a limited release bourbon and sherry barrel finished malt. At ~$120US it's probably out of the realm of most 'starter' (ie younger) Whisky drinkers budgets, not to mention it's very limited release.

ith:

**mookien** · 4th August 13, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

not quite, Ardbog is a limited release bourbon and sherry barrel finished malt. At ~$120US it's probably out of the realm of most 'starter' (ie younger) Whisky drinkers budgets, not to mention it's very limited release. ...

K&L is currently selling Ardbog for $99, but you raise a good point. ROCKS is less than half that ($39), though it was around $50, when I first bought it (too much for what you get, IMO). Perhaps Ardbog was being test marketed. If so, and since they have sold out of their "limited edition", hopefully the test was successful.

**California Highlander** · 4th August 13, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

not quite, Ardbog is a limited release bourbon and sherry barrel finished malt. At ~$120US it's probably out of the realm of most 'starter' (ie younger) Whisky drinkers budgets, not to mention it's very limited release.

ith:

I found a place in San Francisco still that has 3-5 bottles of Ardbog left at $90 per. Still not "cheap", but it's what I paid for last year's Galileo and for a special bottle that you drink by the wee dram, Galileo was worth it and I am hoping to get an Ardbog next paycheck. I stick with Highland Park 12 or Old Pulteney 12 for my "regular" scotch. Great stuff, much more affordable.

Totally agree that Ardbog is not for the younger, casual drinker, but for the true peat-monster connoisseur.

**Liam** · 6th August 13, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by California Highlander

I found a place in San Francisco still that has 3-5 bottles of Ardbog left at $90 per. Still not "cheap", but it's what I paid for last year's Galileo and for a special bottle that you drink by the wee dram, Galileo was worth it and I am hoping to get an Ardbog next paycheck. I stick with Highland Park 12 or Old Pulteney 12 for my "regular" scotch. Great stuff, much more affordable.

Totally agree that Ardbog is not for the younger, casual drinker, but for the true peat-monster connoisseur.

I wouldn't call it a peat monster, such as Ugeadail, which tastes like you are pleasantly in the midst of a camp fire. It is very much a more complex mixture. The manzanilla cask treatment adds an additional layer that one could consider to be either complimentary or confusing, depending upon ones personal palate.