Ardbeg Corryvreckan Whiskey 750ml

Ardbeg distillery has stood on Islay's rugged Kildalton Coast since 1815, and it has long been regarded as one of the island's most intensely peated producers. Now under the ownership of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, the distillery has weathered several closures and changes of hands over the centuries yet has never strayed from its reputation for producing bold, smoky single malts with genuine character.

Corryvreckan takes its name from the fierce whirlpool that churns in the strait north of Islay, a fitting namesake for such a forceful whisky. It begins with Ardbeg's classic heavily peated malt, distilled in the distillery's traditional copper pot stills and matured primarily in ex-bourbon barrels. A portion is then finished in virgin French oak casks, which lend pronounced spice and tannic structure. The whisky is bottled at cask strength, around 57.1% ABV, without chill filtration, preserving its full intensity and oils.

On the palate, smoldering peat smoke and tarred rope arrive first, followed by sea brine, dark chocolate, and espresso. Waves of black pepper and dark stone fruit, plum and black cherry, unfold alongside hints of dried orange peel. A splash of water opens further layers of sweetness.