Idea of this session was trying older Ardbegs, so we put three Ardbegs from 1990s and one Ardbeg from 1970s (I wish we had more of them, but this stuff is too costy)...
The whole set:
Here we have 2 indie bottling and 2 official ones, after first round with these babies we changed order of tasting to independent releases first and then official ones.
Ardbeg 23 yo 1991/2015 MoM 50.6% - matured in bourbon hogshead, 216 bottles released. Come from era when Ardbeg was distilling just a few months per year.
Nose: bourbon influence is there, pine resin, lemons, almost no peat, just a hint. Influence of age.
Taste: intense, peaty and creamy, lots of citrus and salt. Excellent.
Finish: both salty and sweet, becomes spicy and dry at the end.
Overall: as Vanya mentioned that is older style of whisky which you can hardly meet today.
Score = 22 23 22 22, 89/100!
Ardbeg 18 yo 1991/2009 WFY 50% - part of a cask shared with Silver Seal I guess, 120 bottles released.
Nose: dusty at first, gets better and better with time, flowers, fruits, eucalyptus and camphor, tar, peat and brine.
Taste: dense, sherry and peat combo (the peatiest one in this tasting), lots of salt and liquorice
Finish: long, peaty and salty, palette of earthy, tarry and spicy notes.
Overall: well, most guys liked bourbon indie better, though if I were to choose one - I'd pick this one.
Score = 22 23 23 22, 90/100!
P.S. After 3 months spent in a sealed sample this Ardbeg reached 92/100, now leave with this fact :) All the scores we put are slightly... vague.
P.S. After 3 months spent in a sealed sample this Ardbeg reached 92/100, now leave with this fact :) All the scores we put are slightly... vague.
Ardbeg 1990 Airigh Nam Beist (bottled 2008) 46% - that is 3-rd and last batch of this expression, since 2010 there was only one age-stated Ardbeg left in the line - Ardbeg 10. Unequal substitution.
Nose: just another level, clean, fresh, elegant, grassy and creamy, green apples and hint of peat, mint and leather.
Taste: sweet, fruity, some peat and salt, smoked white fish, alcohol isn't noticeable at all, but the body is quite intense even compared to previous CS samples.
Finish: long, peaty and salty, some chocolate and cream.
Overall: wonderfully balanced Ardbeg.
Score = 23 23 23 23, 92/100!
Ardbeg 25 yo Lord of the Isles (bottled 2002) 46% - a vatting of Ardbeg casks distilled in 1974, 1975 and 1976. It is said to contain 15% sherry matured spirit and 85% ex-bourbon. The Lord of the Isles was originally bottled in 2001 and unofficially it was released as an approximately 25 year old whisky comprised mainly of 1976 and 1977 casks. It is said to always contain casks from 1976 and 1977 so the whisky would be older as each bottling run was released.
Nose: this can't be, but it's another step to heaven - grass, flowers, whiffs of pharmacy
Taste: rich, tropical fruits and smoked barley, salt and pine resins,
Finish: long, nutty and salty, a bit medical, grassy.
Overall: that's top-level malt and the best Ardbeg I had so far. Absolutely enjoyable.
Score = 24 24 24 24, 96/100!
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