Ardbeg – 8 Years Old For Discussion (70cl, 50.8%)

Ardbeg 8 Years Old For Discussion is an Islay single malt, bottled at 50.8% in a 70cl bottle. It is not chill-filtered. The nose is intense, with charcoal, creosote, tar and molasses toffee, alongside vegetal touches of fennel, celery and green pepper. As it fades, milk chocolate, aniseed and wood smoke appear. The palate opens with a distinctive peppery tingle, then moves through molasses toffee, aniseed, salted caramel chocolate, eucalyptus, menthol and heather wood. Sweeter flavours give way to saltier ones: charcoal, smoked bacon, burnt toast and tar. The finish is long, with hints of mint and clove.