About this SPIRIT
Ardbeg Distillery, Islay
The origins of Ardbeg (which in Gaelic means small headland) Distillery date as far back as 1794. John MacDougall established the present distillery on the south coast of Islay in 1815 and it was fully operational by 1817. The MacDougall family retained ownership until 1977 when Hiram Walker gained control. However, with most of its output used in blending, Ardbeg struggled to remain viable during the economic downturn of the 1970s, resulting in it being run on a care and maintenance basis from 1983. The distillery closed in July 1996, only to reopen in 1997.
Ardbeg maintains the robust and earthy aromas associated with Islay malts. Described as having a hefty bite and a rich finish, flavours detected include peat smoke, seaweed, sawdust and iodine.
Glenmorangie Plc bought the distillery in 1997. The new owners revived the tradition of producing a very peaty single malt. All the production is sold as single malt (which is rather unusual in the world of whisky). In 2019, a new still house was built to keep up with the increasing demand for this single malt. However, due to the Covid pandemic, it wasn’t opened until March 2021. Ardbeg is now the third most important Islay malt, with a range of limited releases showing its constant experimentation.
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Description
Released in 2015 to celebrate Ardbeg's 200th anniversary, this is a blend of old and young whisky, matured in both bourbon and sherry casks,.
Aroma: Mellow, rich and enticing, with the unmistakable Ardbeggian combination of tar, soot and pine resin. This leads into dark chocolate, treacle toffee, coffee grinds and a distant, nutty/ oaky note. A splash of water initiates a burst of fresh, briny sea-spray with a hint of salt, some linseed oil, and then some more of the classic Ardbeg pine resin/ lime top note. A remarkably fresh bouquet for such a peaty whisky.
Mouthfeel: Creamy and mouth-coating, slightly chewy.
Taste: Intense, robust peat smoke, savoury smoky bacon, cinnamon and nutmeg, but also an incredible creamy, sweet vanilla/milk chocolate note, which soothes the palate.
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