Taster

Nose: Assertive, with soot, dry sherry, raisins and claret.

Palate: Dry, lots of smoke-both wood and peat, aniseed and fishermen's ropes.

Finish: Long and loud.

Comment: A 'no bones about it' Islay whisky, and a fine example of Ardbeg.

Score: 8.8

Taster

Nose: Mature, liquorous and sweet. There's prunes, coffee grounds, cream sherry and dried mushroom; funkier notes of moss, creosote, bung cloth, resin and chimney smoke. A big bugger.

Palate: Immediate, all-enveloping smoke. Rich, mature with good grip: dried fig, turf, nuts. Mellow.

Finish: Big, intense, smoky. Touch of rubber.

Comment: Not exactly discreet...but it's Ardbeg!

Score: 8.5