Initially an intense aroma of cracked black pepper, mingling with sappy pine resin and the sharp tang of smoke, followed by an explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. Savoury meats sink into the palate, before the long salty mouth-coating finish slinks away. At just 5 years old, the legendary smokiness of Ardbeg is untamed by age, revealing the inner beast of this Islay icon.