Ardbeg – Scorch Feis Ile 2021 (70cl, 46%)

Ardbeg – Scorch Feis Ile 2021 is a whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Bottled at 46% ABV, 70cl. Since its establishment in 1815, The Ardbeg distillery has been on a tumultuous rollercoaster ride of ownership changes, closures, and reopening. Stability was only achieved relatively recently, when the ailing distillery was purchased in 1997 by industry giants, Glenmorangie. The subsequent years have seen the distillery’s popularity swell, with fans enticed by the signature style of tarry, sooty smoke, balanced against citric sweetness and an oily mouthfeel. While Ardbeg still retains its distinctive personality, it has definitely been influenced by Glenmorangie’s propensity for experimenting with cask finishing, and (dare we say it) NAS expressions. Feis 2021 Release: Scorch After the disappointment of 2020’s cancelled Whisky festival, hopes were sky high for Feis 2021. Unfortunately, COVID had it’s own plans, and the festivities had to be shelved for another year. Ardbeg came through, and lifted their heads above the parapet. Releasing the bottle they had prepared for the Feis, and thankfully we got a tasty dram to console ourselves with. Inspired by local folk tales of monsters and dragons, the Scorch has been aged in fiercely charred American Bourbon oak casks.