In Scottish mythology, kelpies are shape-shifting water spirits that can either take the form of a horse or a human. Spending almost all of their time on the grounds of lakes and other waters, they are elusive beings that are rarely seen and almost never caught. The latter, they have in common with Ardbeg’s new annual bottling, which is named after these mythical creatures. Especially the limited Committee Release in cask strength, which was exclusively offered to the Islay distillery’s fan club members on March 16, is almost as hard to get hold of as an actual kelpie. In next to no time, it was sold out from Ardbeg’s online stores across the globe. With my credit card at hand and the order form opened simultaneously on two devices, I was lucky to score an Ardbeg Kelpie – Committee Release this year! And since I believe that such whiskies are made for drinking, I uncorked my bottle the day I received it. Inside, I found a tangy single malt Scotch whisky with a pervasive martime note. While many an island dram appears to be “shaped by the waves”, this one is “designed by the deep”. If you managed to grab a bottle or a sample of the new Ardbeg, pour yourself a glass and let the Kelpie carry you off to the muddy bottom of the sea! And if you came away empty-handed this time, try to grab the regular version bottled at 46 per cent. It will go on sale on June 3 and I am sure it will be as sublime as the cask strength edition!
by Tobi
Eye: A treasure chest full of old coins raised from the ocean floor.
Nose: One sniff is all it takes for the Kelpie to drag you down into its underwater realm. Take a deep breath and discover salt, shells, seaweed, iodine and smoked mackerel.
Palate: As expected from a tentacle-wobbling water spirit, the Kelpie has an oily mouthfeel and a robust stature. It is a little nutty at first, then turns into a salty direction and ends with a slightly bitter note. The smoke is also in there, but it is less dominant than you might expect.
Finish: Once it has you in its grip, this mythical creature will not let you go again. Expect a long finish characterized by cooled-off black tea, salt-tanged seawater and smoldering driftwood.
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- The dram
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- The label
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- In the glass
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- Promo shot
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Region: Scotland (Islay)
Age: No Age Statement
Alc. volume: 51.7%
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price range: ~94.00 Euro
More info: http://www.ardbeg.com/ (Distillery)
BarleyMania | Whisky & Whiskey 
I need to find this one elsewhere. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission is a thorn in my flesh.
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Fingers crossed you manage to score a bottle for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, most resellers charge twice or thrice of what they paid for their bottles. If you don’t manage to get a Committee bottling, I hope you will at least score the regular version on Ardbeg Day. Last year, I also missed the Committee Release of the Dark Cove, but got hold of the normal edition. It’s one of my favorite whiskies of 2016!
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Oh wow this sounds fantastic! I will definitely pick up a regular bottling later this year, but I’ll admit I’m more than a little jealous you managed to get a hold of the cask strength version ;) Enjoy it and thanks for the review!
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Yes, this year I was among the lucky ones that were quick enough. While the Kelpie in cask strength is indeed quite something, I’m sure the regular bottling will be awesome, too. Last year, I did not score the Committee Release of the Dark Cove, but got the standard version on Ardbeg Night. It ended up being one of my very favorite whiskies of the year!
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Tobi, did you rip the bottles out of the postman’s hands and did a tasting there and then? I too managed to score a bottle from the site online, and the delivery man rang just when you posted your tasting notes! This must be a benefit of living at GMT+1!
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Glad to hear you got a Kelpie Committee Release, too. And yes… I was quite excited to get my bottle and give it a try! ;)
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