The Corryvreckan will take over a room. It's a massive powerhouse of a whisky. Scorched earth, sea spray, and roasted nuts mesh with fruit compote, dark roast coffee, lovely oak spice and sweet vanilla. It's one of the most distinct noses in all of Scotch and something that you likely love or hate. If you haven't had this staple in a long time, it's worth a revisit. If you've never had it before, caveat emptor, it is not for the faint of heart. If you don't love smoky whisky - this isn't your dram. If you do, nothing else will likely suffice when the craving strikes. Ardbeg is one of the few major Scotch distilleries that hasn't skyrocketed their prices in recent years and arguably with its ravenous cult following and exceptional quality it has one of the best excuses to if they wanted to. Fortunately for now it remains one of the best deals available in any core brand lineup.

For sure, the next time I have enough spare change to be able to decide between purchasing a Talisker 18 or the Corry, I am likely to experience some cognitive dissonance--and I mean before I have had any whisky! UPDATE: After first sampling the Corryvreckan, I was able to purchase a bottle and am very happy with it. This whisky presents luxe aromas of vanilla, caramel, and a hint of chocolate liqueur, haunted by a roasted seaweed, smoked fish and bacon sort of peatiness. If you've tried the Ardbeg 10 but felt it was just somewhat too aggressively peaty for you, at least for now, check out this one. It's got all the soft, lovely smoky beauty of a Talisker Distiller's, say, but with a spicier, cinnamon mint finish--like a younger Islay, like our Kilchoman single barrels, for instance. If you don't mind a hot finish, and love a single malt that tantalizes your nose with seductive, smoky and sweet aromas, this is it.

Another great addition to the line of single malts from Ardbeg. The Corryvreckan has the famous Ardbeg smoke and peat but is a unique product in its own right. The mouth feel is rich and round with more weight than I had expected. This blends very nicely with the smoke and peat to make one great beverage.