想必喜愛Whisky的各位都知道艾雷島的酒款特色,就是那強烈又個性鮮明的泥煤味了
由於島上約有1/4土地被泥煤覆蓋,許多酒廠使用的水源也有泥煤層影響,艾雷島因此成為泥煤威士忌的代表
而在艾雷島上產出的阿貝10年可以說是相當代表阿貝風格的酒款
阿貝酒廠是沿海而建的,雖然它們初期由於資金不順暢的原因
它絕大部分剛蒸餾完的新酒都會被裝進已使用過的三或四次的橡木桶中來進行熟成
即便如此,外在環境的艱難並沒有使阿貝單一純麥威士忌的酒質受到傷害
Ardbeg Single Malt Whisky 依然擁有風格獨特的絕佳風味
品酒筆記:
香氣:前段為煙燻的果香,結合了檸檬與萊姆的香氣,中段為黑巧克力香味,後段為清新的薄荷腦與黑胡椒,甜美的煙燻味
Nose:A ridge of vanilla leads to mountain of peat capped with citrus fruits and circled by clouds of sea spray.
口感:泥煤味伴隨著檸檬與萊姆汁,黑胡椒與肉桂的太妃糖甜味,豐富多層的口感帶出泥煤的芳香
An explosion of crackling peat sets off millions of flavour explosions: peat effervesces with tangy lemon and lime juice, black pepper pops with sizzling cinnamon-spiced toffee. Then comes a wave of brine infused with smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas and currants. Smoke gradually wells up on the palate bringing a mouthful of warm creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows. As the taste lengthens and deepens, dry espresso, liquorice root and tarry smoke develop coating the palate with chewy peat oils.
餘韻:餘韻不斷在嘴裡迴盪,帶有濃縮咖啡,洋茴,熱杏仁與滑順巴利酒和新鮮洋梨的味道,悠久且充滿著煙薰香
Finish: Long and glorious; sea salted caramel and beach bonfire smoke.