Ardbeg 2000 Artist #15 Something in the Water 25 yo

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

Old Ardbegs are becoming increasingly rare, which is why this one is such a blessing. Distilled at the turn of the century and placed in an Oloroso Sherry Butt, it sat untouched for 25 years before being transferred into 224 bottles. The label features Radhika Surana's artwork Relationships Through Lichens III.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sherry marries peat, and this becomes floral, honeyed, caramelised. A coastal character that imposes itself, limestone, iodine, sea spray, smoke that is powerful despite the age, thick, suffocating. Soot and apricots, charcoal and Williams pear, roasted nuts, candied dates, lilies, irises. Velvety, silky palate, tarte Tatin dusted with icing sugar, liquid honey, lychees, almonds, vanilla cream, then the peat rises, thick, oily, herbal, even medicinal, mossy, smoked bacon, hot asphalt, almost sweet spices alongside. Endless finish, explosive throughout, ginger, a drop of tar, roots still full of earth, fried onions, dark chocolate.

 

In Short, 

A very fine Ardbeg, truly superb at times, a total success I would say, with no flaws whatsoever. The peat is intense, but it does not mask a whole subtle world that mingles, between coastal character and lusciousness, some floral fragrances and dried fruit. The sherry is not at all powerful, it enhances the distillate rather than hiding it, perhaps it was a refill cask. Unfortunately, the price is astronomical, but I can consider myself very lucky to have dipped my lips into it once.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Kauan - Leave/Let Go