Ardbeg Alligator - b. 2011 - 70cl

This bottle is from a privat collection.

Ardbeg Alligator is a special (Committee) release from Ardbeg from 2011, issued under the Ardbeg Committee program. This bottling stands out for its cask treatment: “Alligator charring” refers to an especially deep way of charring the inside of oak casks, which gives the wood a distinct, scaly texture (similar to “alligator scales”).

What tasters often highlight is that Alligator is all about a combination of smoke and peat/turf character with a more pronounced “bourbon” side thanks to the cask choice and the level of char. It brings together Islay-style notes such as smoky, coastal/briny character, along with sweeter, darker impressions—like vanilla and chocolate/sweet caramel-like notes.

At its core, it’s an Ardbeg with a distinctly expressive character where the cask treatment is the focus—hence the collectible name “Alligator.”