WHY: Whereas old school Scotch drinkers cut their teeth on Johnnie Black and Lagavulin 16, around 2007 a younger generation began gravitating to Ardbeg instead with its big, brash flavors of smoke, salt, iodine, peat, and citrus. Ardbeg Uigeadail is a bold and assertive expression of all that intensity, bottled at a high proof and bolstered by Sherry maturation that adds richness to balance out all that power.

HOW: Ardbeg's lighter body and profound salinity are what separate it from its neighbors on Islay, and are the result of a purifier that hangs under the lyne arm on its stills. Helping to separate out the lighter alcohol molecules from the heavier ones. The result is a refined and delicate texture, but still with plenty of concentration. The Uigeadail marries Bourbon and Sherry casks of various ages and bottles them with little dilution and no chill filtration.

WHAT: Ardbeg was purchased in 1997 by the Glenmorangie Company and LVMH, who subsequently revamped the distillery and released a number of high proof expressions that showcased a more flavorful and explosive style of Islay whisky. Under the stewardship of Dr. Bill Lumsden, the distillery became the darling of both critics and consumers, capturing multiple "Best Whisky in the World" awards and topping the annual best-of lists year after year.

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