Ardbeg – 13 Year Old The Ultimate Anthology The Harpy's Tale (70cl, 46%)

This is a 13 year old Islay single malt from Ardbeg, bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle as The Harpy's Tale, part of the three-part Anthology series. Each bottle in the series joins two elements, and here the harpy of Greek myth, half human and half bird, gives the theme. The whisky matured for 13 years in two types of cask, Sauternes sweet wine casks and ex-bourbon casks, which were then married together. The nose is oily, with sweet wood, coriander, sage and a touch of smoked lemon peel. On the palate a soft, oily texture leads to sweet smoke, molasses, aniseed pastilles, smoked apricot and eucalyptus oil. The finish is long, sweet and smoky, with cumin, cardamom and a little coconut.