Ardbeg Uigeadail 54.2% vs Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990/2006 46%

Uigedail is one of 3 essential modern Ardbeg releases (Ten, Uigedail and Corryvreckan), earlier versions from 2003-2004 are trading well above EUR 200 now. A perfect way to start with Ardbeg anyway :)

Ardbeg Uigeadail 54.2% - I've tasted this very version today (L63651, bottled 18.11.2015). Earlier version was scored around 90/100 by me (not sure about exact L-code, but should be 2007 - 2008 bottling). The name itself is Gailic meaning "dark and mysterious" and refers to Loch Uigeadail nearby which provides water for the distillery. Pronounced oog-a-dal, that's always a riddle for non-Gaelic people how to pronounce all these names :) That's classic NAS expresion combining younger spirits (mostly matured in bourbon casks) with some older ones matured in sherry casks.

Nose: peat, sea and salt. Smoked kippers. Some sweet fruits, especially dried apples. Not a sign of alcohol despite high strength. 

Taste: quite dense, it's all about sweet peat. And some lemon. And brine. And liquorice. And ashes.

Finish: long and powerful on peat, salt and some sweet spices.

Overall: the nose isn't so persuasive, the rest is ok, though it seems to me that earlier versions were more complex... and the trees were higher also... I guess that ratio of old and young spirits has changed through time as well as the spirits themselves. Nevertheless it's great mighty malt and if peat is ok for you then try it! Average of EUR 60 is certainly a bargain.

Score: 21 22 22 22, 87/100!

Not so pleased with Uigedail as I hoped, so let's go to trusted release:

Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990/2006 46% - bottled in 2006, L6 346. I guess that 2007 release was scored 92/100, though getting + or - 1 point depending on mood, stars and other really important things is rather easy. The name itself means "shelter of the beast" and is pronounced "Arry nam Baysht". A little more on it you can find here. 

Nose: less peat than in Uigedail, sea and salt are there, though we also have some barley (traces of older spirits in it) and tropical fruits here. Some lemon. More complex one. 

Taste: not so dense, though damn drinkable and delicious developing on sweet fruits, cream, salt, barley, and white oily fish, m-m-m!

Finish: sweetness, salt, oak, pepper and spices. 

Overall (compared to Uigedail): the nose is more complex, taste isn't so powerful, but seems more elegant, finish is on the same "pleasure level", overall Nam Beist is beautifully balanced whisky combining tropical sweetness, oily fish, smoke, lemons and sea. Much more to my liking despite lower strength. But believe me it's powerful enough!

Score: 23 23 22 23, 91/100!