Ardbeg Uigeadail Review

The name is Gaelic, and it’s pronounced something like “OOG-a-dal”. It refers to the loch that supplies the water to the Ardbeg distillery. Most people just call it Uigeadail and hope nobody asks for the spelling.

It’s the bottle that mixes peat with sherry, and at 54.2% it’s strong too.

Smoke, sherry and strength

Ardbeg is on the south coast of Islay and is owned by Moët Hennessy. Uigeadail was introduced in 2003. It’s a mix of ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry casks, and the sherry gives a sweet, rich edge to the heavy smoke. It’s bottled at 54.2% and has no age statement.

It’s not chill-filtered, and the strength isn’t a round number because the idea is to match the whisky to the point the blenders liked it most. That’s the story, anyway.

My own limit

I’m not a heavy-peat person and I prefer smooth whisky. Uigeadail is smoky and strong. That’s a lot to take on, so I’d want to be fair about it. The sherry sweetness might make the smoke easier to enjoy, which is a bet worth testing.

Trying it

I tried this neat and then with water. I knew it’s smoky and at 54.2%, so I was ready. The smoke hits straight away, with the sherry coming a moment later.

Nose: Peat smoke and dried fruit, with chocolate and spice. It smells smoky and rich, like a bonfire next to a chocolate shop.

Palate: The smoke hits first and hard. Then there’s a thick sherry sweetness, with raisin, toffee and coffee, and a lot of spice. The sherry helps, and it’s cleverly balanced. But the smoke and strength are still too much for me. With water it’s better, but I’m still aware of the smoke.

Finish: Very long, smoky and sweet. The smoke stays for a very long time. Water softened it slightly.

Ardbeg 10 versus Uigeadail

The Ardbeg 10 is the standard bottle at 46%, lemony and smoky. Uigeadail is richer and sweeter, with the sherry influence. Corryvreckan is a bolder, peppery release. If you like the 10, Uigeadail is the next stop.

Alternatives

Aberlour A’bunadh and Glenfarclas 105 are sherried and strong, but not peaty. Lagavulin 16 is a rich smoky malt at a lower strength. Laphroaig 10 is more medicinal.

Value

A 70 cl bottle usually costs about £68 in the UK. At 54.2% that’s good value, if you like the style.

At 54.2%, it gives more flavour per measure than a 40% bottle. It’s priced above Ardbeg 10. Many people feel the extra is worth it.

Who it is for

It’s for fans of peaty whisky who want a richer, stronger bottle. It’s not for newcomers and not for people who dislike smoke.

The sherry helps

The sherry sweetness does help with the smoke, and I appreciated that. It’s the Islay whisky that I found easiest to understand, because there’s a lot of sweetness to hold on to. I still found the smoke big and long.

For the peat fans

If you like peat, I think this is excellent, and I’d say it’s one of the best of the style. My score reflects my taste, and I’d give it a higher number if I loved smoke.

At £68 it’s good value for 54.2%. I’d happily recommend it to a friend who likes smoky whisky.

Last word

Ardbeg Uigeadail is a brilliant whisky for people who love smoke, and a challenge for those who don’t. It’s rich, smoky and complex, and the sherry gives it a sweetness that holds it together. It’s very well made.

For me, the smoke is too strong, and that’s all. I’d say it’s one of the best peated whiskies I’ve tried, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes the style.

At £68 it’s good value. I’d give it as a present to a peat lover, and I’d drink a glass if offered. For my own shelf, I’d choose something softer, and I’d feel fine about it.

A last point. If you want to give it a fair chance, try a few drops of water and wait a couple of minutes. The sherry sweetness comes forward, and the smoke becomes less sharp. It’s a big whisky, and it changes a lot as it opens.

Verdict

No. It’s a brilliant whisky for peat lovers, and I’d recommend it to one. I’d choose something sweeter.