Ardbeg – Almost There 1998 3rd Release (70cl, 54.1%)

Almost There 1998 is the third release in Ardbeg's Peaty Path to Maturity series, made for the Ardbeg Committee. It was distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2007 at nine years old, at a cask strength of 54.1%, without chill-filtration or added colour. The whisky dates from the years after Ardbeg reopened in 1997, and belongs to the run of young releases that led to the Ardbeg 10 Years Old of 2008. The nose offers charcoal, tar, toffee, milk chocolate, aniseed and wood smoke. The palate is peppery and tingling with some sweetness, alongside smoked bacon, burnt toast and tar. The finish is long, with fresh mint and cloves.