Islay expertise needed- Ardbeg and Bowmore


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I hope that someone here can chime in on these two distilleries.

I have the opportunity to get some older bottles (not really old, but 3-7 yrs past their release).

Bowmore Dawn

Bowmore Dusk

Bowmore Darkest (possibly)

Ardbeg Uigeadail (old box with flip top)

Ardbeg Ardbog

Ardbeg some other Ardbeg Day release

Anyone tried these and can give a review, I'd appreciate it.

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Bowmore have certainly come out with more 'expressions' in the last few years, but I tend to find them 'salty'. It's an odd tang that I pick up in the flavour. And hence I'm not a big fan, though the sherry cask finished (I think Darkest) disguises this. I'd class this as the lightest of the 3 you've listed, in terms of peat, smoke and flavour

Ardbeg on the other hand is something else. A light pale sprite with a huge peaty punch and runs around 46% I think. I prefer the Corryvreckan to the Uigeadail, mainly because it is not as balanced. Corryvreckan is brutal. I'll take all your bottles.

I haven't tried Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte) in years and probably more interested in their Gin than all the expressions their marketing at the moment. If your after peat try their Octomore.

So

Ardbeg to blow your mind

Port Charlotte for comparison and

Bowmore for a change.

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I'm a heavy collector and drinker of both Ardbeg and Bruichladdich Port Charlotte bottlings. Ardbeg i just find so full and satisfying a whisky thay i could be happy with that and nothing else, and Corryvrecken is the best they make IMO, but Ardbog was good too, Uigeadail is also tasty and I loved Ardbeg Day but that's the one bottle i havnt yet been able to get. If it's one of the early release Uigeadails, it will actually have some quite old Ardbeg in it- you're in for a treat.

The PCs i find excellent, they differ from Ardbeg in that there is a creaminess to the smokey palate in some of them. Octomore does it too, I'm a fan of both whiskies. Bruichladdich does a lot of great things with different wine casks, and with PC and Octomore they do the same.

I don't like Bowmore, in that they always (including the older bottles you mentioned there) seem to have a short abrupt finish to the whisky, a dryness in the palate, which is heavily salty and smoky to begin with, but without the substance of an Ardbeg or PC, or even Lagavulin, laphroaig or Caol Ila. I find Bowmore thin. But, I'd give it a try if i were you - different strokes for different folks, right? I just don't like it.

Hope that helps dude

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PC is scarce,all of it.

Ardbeg is excellent,all of it.

Bowmore has much to recommend it,very tasty.I have not had the Dawn and Dusk,

Bowmore Darkest is the only one with low ratings,still a very nice dram.

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Thanks for all of the info!

Bowmore have certainly come out with more 'expressions' in the last few years, but I tend to find them 'salty'. It's an odd tang that I pick up in the flavour. And hence I'm not a big fan, though the sherry cask finished (I think Darkest) disguises this. I'd class this as the lightest of the 3 you've listed, in terms of peat, smoke and flavour

Ardbeg on the other hand is something else. A light pale sprite with a huge peaty punch and runs around 46% I think. I prefer the Corryvreckan to the Uigeadail, mainly because it is not as balanced. Corryvreckan is brutal. I'll take all your bottles.

I haven't tried Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte) in years and probably more interested in their Gin than all the expressions their marketing at the moment. If your after peat try their Octomore.

So

Ardbeg to blow your mind

Port Charlotte for comparison and

Bowmore for a change.

If the price is good, certainly get the Port Charlotte PCs purely for the intrinsic value.

I liked the latest Port Charlotte Scottish Barley release, but thought it was rather light. If the earlier expressions are that good, I'll probably pick them up- they are all something like $60-70.

I'm a heavy collector and drinker of both Ardbeg and Bruichladdich Port Charlotte bottlings. Ardbeg i just find so full and satisfying a whisky thay i could be happy with that and nothing else, and Corryvrecken is the best they make IMO, but Ardbog was good too, Uigeadail is also tasty and I loved Ardbeg Day but that's the one bottle i havnt yet been able to get. If it's one of the early release Uigeadails, it will actually have some quite old Ardbeg in it- you're in for a treat.

The PCs i find excellent, they differ from Ardbeg in that there is a creaminess to the smokey palate in some of them. Octomore does it too, I'm a fan of both whiskies. Bruichladdich does a lot of great things with different wine casks, and with PC and Octomore they do the same.

I don't like Bowmore, in that they always (including the older bottles you mentioned there) seem to have a short abrupt finish to the whisky, a dryness in the palate, which is heavily salty and smoky to begin with, but without the substance of an Ardbeg or PC, or even Lagavulin, laphroaig or Caol Ila. I find Bowmore thin. But, I'd give it a try if i were you - different strokes for different folks, right? I just don't like it.

Hope that helps dude

I have to check the bottle codes- if it's old Uigeadail, I'm definitely buying it. The other Ardbeg might be the ANB, which I heard was definitely worth buying. Any opinion on how old the Uigeadail has to be for it to be the "good stuff"? Pre-2010? I'm pretty sure it's older than that, because it's in the flip-top box, not a regular Ardbeg cheap paper box.

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I know the Bowmore 15 Darkest second and third batch have been quite nice for me. i stashed a few of the second release in my Bat Cellar!

Ardbeg Uigeadail (Ougie for the intimate) have also been to my liking but I didn't follow their batches at all..

Keep us in the loop as to what you buy Taka!

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I'm not a fan of the Bowmore line. Just doesn't do anything for me.

Ardbeg 10 YO, Ueigadall and Corryvreckan are amazing. Ardbog was fantastic but Auriverdes was a bit of a let down. The 2014 Supernova was excellent, although compared to an earlier release (don't recall if it was a 2010 or 2012) it was lacking a bit.

When I open an Uiegee bottle, it doesn't last long.

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