Ardbeg – Kelpie (2017) (70cl, 46%)

Ardbeg Kelpie is a limited edition from the Islay distillery, released in 2017 as an official distillery bottling. It is bottled at 46% ABV in a 70cl bottle. The whisky was matured in Black Sea oak casks, a wood rarely used for whisky, which gives a dark, intensely smoky Ardbeg. The nose is typically described as peat smoke, sea salt, dark wood and spice. On the palate it is oily, with pepper, cocoa, pure smoke and marine notes. The finish is long, warm and smoky.