Welcome back to another fine pairing of two single malts, with the purpose of teasing out those minute details and comparing the tiny differences when tasting them side-by-side. Today’s pairing is a favourite among the followers of these words. And it’s actually a second take! You see, my previous attempt at comparing the Ardbeg Uigeadail against the Laphroaig Lore was a complete failure – but it wasn’t my fault! I was served the wrong whisky! So today, I’m getting a chance to re-taste them! I’ve been waiting for this for a while now, so let’s not hold back! But first, we need that good music! Now playing: A Strangely Isolated Place – 2020 Label Compilation for Headphone Commute.

Pronounced “oog-a-dal“, this single malt from Ardbeg is bottled at a cask strength of 54.2% ABV. This is a vatting of ex-bourbon barrels (55-65%) and ex-sherry butts, which is non-chill filtered, but with added colouring no added colouring [confirmed via a German retailer] and no given age statement on the bottle. It’s got some wonderful burned wood smoke on the nose, with plenty of sherry coming through on the tail end. It’s punchy, rugged, and rich. I am debating if I should add some water, but at this time, I’ll give it one more taste as neat. There is a honeyed sweetness on the nose, but with the essence of tobacco, leather, chocolate, and all those great delicious things. Dipped cigar elements continue to stand out after a second taste, and it’s as if I’ve left a bit of smoke (cradled in sweet barbecue) lingering on my lips for a pretty long finish. Let’s try a bit of Laphroaig next, and then come back here with more water. The colour of this single malt is the same – they’re both in that deep copper glow space. But since it has the added colouring, none of that truly matters. Both bottles are made of dark green glass, so hopefully, you won’t be tricked into picking out a “better” whisky from the shelves just based on colour. More of that beautiful medicinal peat here, with the sweetness of the barbecues [again] and open fires. It’s softer on the palate than the Uigeadail, but that I can attribute to the lower ABV of 48%.

The Lore is a vatting of five different cask types, which include ex-bourbon barrels, large Oloroso sherry butts [just like the Uigeadail, again], plus quarter casks of varied years [same as Laphroaig uses for its Quarter Cask expression]. It doesn’t state the age but simply mentions [on the site] that there are whiskies here ranging from 7 to 21 years. I add a bit of water to the Uigeadail now to bring it down in ABV, and just a drop of water to the Lore to have it open up and see what we can find in the second round. Let us reverse the order this time, then. The nose of the Laphroaig collapsed. I have to smell the inside of my arm to reset all my senses. It’s not as pungy as before, but when I smell the Uigeadail, it’s darker and deeper, with burnt caramel and toffee. Laphroaig is just Laphroaig – it doesn’t disappoint – but it is less aggressive with its peat than I am used to. It mellowed out with a drop but still delivers on the palate, with ash and smoke and richness of its essence. It’s such a lovely dram! I could just stay with it for hours. The Uigeadail is sweeter now, rounder, and fuller. There’s still a bite, but it comes in the end, like a well-earned bonus. It’s more pronounced on the sherry than the Lore. Here, both, the smoke and sherry are up front, right in your face, awakening your senses. The Lore is softer on its statement with the flavours, a bit reserved, but I can say for sure that peat is louder. And, once again, it is that Laphroaig peat that I have come to love with time [and age].

Distillery / Region	Ardbeg / Islay	Laphroaig / Islay
Producer	Glenmorangie	Beam Suntory
Bottler / Series	Distillery bottling / core range	Distillery bottling / core range
Stated Age / Vintage	NAS	NAS
Cask type	Ex-bourbon & ex-sherry casks	Ex-bourbon, ex-sherry & quarter casks
ABV / Cask Strength	54.2% / No	48.0% / No
Non-chill filtered/ Uncoloured	Yes / Yes 🌟	Yes / No
Price	£63	£68

What can I say? It’s hard to pick a winner. I’ll do another sip of both to see which one I’d like again. No water this time then, but I will cleanse my palette with some Pellegrino. So here we go for one last taste. The nose on Ardbeg is acute, while the Laphroaig is balanced. The Ardbeg’s clean and sharp and simply punches through. Laphroaig is softer, mellower, and slightly sweeter. The Ardbeg is about £63, while the Laphroaig is £68. What can I say, folks? These are two amazing drams! And although I initially thought that this pairing would result in a draw, I have to make a call and will proclaim the “oogie” as the winner of this round, that’s for the price, the richness, and the integrity bottling!