This Signatory bottling is everything that a bold, in-your-face Ardbeg should be. It starts with a colossal whack of peat on the nose, followed by a citrusy, fruitiness that gradually mellows into notes of herbs and spices. Then, as you take a sip, it hits you with another whack. Waves of salty peat crash against your palate, leaving behind deep, aromatic flavours of cardamom and curry. But the finish is what this whisky is all about. It’s long and bold and full-on. The peat is still making itself known, but now it’s also introducing vanilla and chocolate notes (from the time it spent in a first-fill bourbon cask for sixteen years) that give way to the peat again. It’s a real treat. And, because it was bottled at cask-strength, Signatory only produced 280 bottles. We’re lucky enough to have a few in our store, but if you want one, you’ll have to be quick.