Ardbeg – Kelpie Committee Release 2017 (70cl, 51.7%)

Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Release 2017 is an Islay single malt, bottled in November 2016 at 51.7% in a 70cl bottle. It is non-chill-filtered and produced in a strictly limited number. It matured in fresh casks made from oak grown on the Black Sea coast of Adygea, a wood rarely used for maturing whisky until now. The nose is intense and layered, with strong peat smoke, dark chocolate, smoked fish, seaweed, herbs and black pepper. Water brings out creamy coffee, smoky buttery toffee, pine resin and smoked coconut. The palate is peppery, with molasses toffee, Turkish coffee, smoky bacon, dark chocolate, ripe peach and hickory with clove oil. A hint of black olives follows.