Whisky Wednesday: Ardbeg and Highland Park

In a previous post, I mentioned that Scotch ain't Stuffy   I'll stand by that. But, it also ain't snobbery to have a few favorites (or maybe favourites, since its from the UK, who knows)  There are lots of great whiskys out there, but if I want a real treat I usually have Ardbeg or Highland Park

Highland Park is a tasty beverage to quench your thirst.  I think of Highland Park as the standard by which to judge the other top of the line whiskys. Its not necessarily better. Instead, it embodies all of the best qualities of Scotch in moderation.  Its smoky, but not very extremely, the flavor is just perfect.  It's smooth (doesn't burn your tastebuds to cinders) , finishes strong (you can taste it for 10 minutes after you sip some)  and goes perfect with a cigar, or fish, or lucky charms. 

A scotch lover would say Ardbeg is very smoky and peaty.  Anybody else would say it smells like rotten socks and burnt leather.   Ardbeg distillery closed down in 1981, but reopened in 1997.  I would say that Scotch gets really good around 12 years. Which means, I'm waiting with baited breath for Ardbeg 12 to come out sometime in the next year.   I have had the fortune to taste an Ardbeg 30.  It was marketed as "Lord of the Isles". It cost $35 a shot, but was like tasting a smooth and smoky piece of heaven.  I'm looking forward to an Ardbeg tasting tomorrow night at Delilah's , which has the best whisky selection I've seen at any bar in Chicago

Don't forget to get a ticket to Whiskyfest Chicago.  See you there.

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Comments

[james snyder]

I'm pretty sure the Lord of the Isle is 25 year. Definitely my all time best scotch I've ever had!