Ardbeg 25 yo 2022

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

I didn’t know that the Ardbeg 25 Year Old was an annual limited edition; if the hostess hadn’t explained it to me, I would have missed it. I thought it was part of the Core Range, but that wasn’t a well-considered thought. As the 19-year-old is itself an annual release, there’s no reason why an older bottling shouldn’t be too. This one, bottled in 2022, is therefore Batch 3. There was a Batch 4, and even a Batch 5, but Batch 6 is apparently still a long way off. I gather the series has ended, unless it has become a biennial release. However, if this was bottled in 2022 and is 25 years old, then distillation must have taken place in 1997. Precisely the year Glenmorangie bought the distillery and it resumed production after six years of inactivity. The spirit is therefore exactly 25 years old, and not a day older. Apparently, they still managed to produce 6,000 bottles of it.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very ethereal peat, with a vaporous iodine note, oysters, drizzled with a splash of lemon zest, delicate vanilla, custard dusted with a pinch of salt, flecks of limestone, candied pears, bread fresh from the oven, a sun-kissed crust, and very subtle smoke. Smooth, oily palate, argan oil, runny honey, very elegant woodiness, a beach in spring, a slice of pineapple, pebbles and lychees, waxy cereals, almost undetectable spices. Very long, full-bodied finish, mineral, even rocky, sweetly charred, dark chocolate and coffee, metallic notes, hazelnuts and icing sugar, kelp and Guérande salt. Smoked salmon. 

 

In Short, 

Typically, quintessentially Ardbeg, instantly recognisable from the very first whiff, yet very subtle, balanced and not at all harsh. A refined experience, truly enjoyable, the bottling is truly exceptional, but is it worth the price? Absolutely not, even at half the price, it would still be too expensive. 

Score : 90 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Woodkid - The Golden Age

Ardbeg 2005 Traigh Bhan 19 yo Batch 6

 

 

 

46,2°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon American Oak and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm 

 

 

 

The Traigh Bhan range was originally announced as a series of five bottlings, so everyone assumed it would end after Batch 5, but no, Batch 6 was released in late 2024, and there’s even a Batch 7, which I haven’t had the chance to taste yet. The blend of Oloroso sherry casks and American oak bourbon casks is a tried-and-tested recipe dating back to Batch 1 in 2019, which adds fruitiness to the spirit without masking it.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very fruity at first, with plums, citrus fruits and pears, though it remains somewhat light. There’s a hint of minerality, limestone, iodine and eucalyptus, along with a very subtle vanilla note. Behind this lie charcoal, heady peat, vegetal notes and a touch of something medicinal. On the palate, red apples, juicy pears, goji berries and mountain honey. Almond paste, a pinch of salt, mild spices. The peat is subtle, and drifts along with a few fish. A very long finish, though not explosive, very peaty, shortbread biscuits, dried seaweed, glasswort, waxed wood, charred dark chocolate, a zest of lemon, liquorice. 

 

In Short, 

There are some really good qualities to this, but I’m not entirely convinced. The nose struck me as pleasantly fruity, with a nice balance between peat and mineral and iodine notes, but it lacked a bit of power to really impress me. The finish is lovely, almost the opposite of the nose, with more pronounced peat, very mineral and maritime, but here it’s the fruity notes that are a bit lacking. On the palate, it’s very solid, but not expressive enough. This makes for an interesting, pleasant whisky, but not quite a success in my view, certainly not the best in the series (some say it’s Batch 1, for me it’s Batch 3). What’s more, the price is too high for my liking.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Daarling - Slow

Ardbeg Anthology 15 yo The Beithir's Tale

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Charred Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

From what I’ve been reading here and there, the Ardbeg Anthology series has now come to an end. It consists of three distinct bottlings – aged 13, 14 and 15 years – released at one-year intervals. This is the last one, dating from 2025, and it was created using casks that were air-aged, then heavily toasted and charred. There is no indication of the number of bottles produced. The beithir is a Scottish mythological creature resembling a dragon or a huge snake, and it possesses a venomous sting. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

A nose typical of the distillery, thick smoke, iodine and limestone, with a hint of wax and white fruits, juicy pears, peaches and honey. Greasy charcoal, campfire, but also lemon zest and sweet vanilla, it’s actually quite well-balanced. Buttery bread, pine needles. On the palate, the peat is thick, counterbalanced by raisins, angelica, pears in syrup, pastry cream, warming spices, ginger and a pinch of cinnamon. A fairly powerful and long finish, coffee, cola, dark chocolate, soot and dried apricots, dried tobacco leaves, cake batter, roots, aniseed. 

 

In Short, 

From what I can tell, it’s already better than the first Anthology, which I tasted here. However, I’m not entirely convinced. It’s more balanced than the younger Ardbegs, but not necessarily more subtle. It’s just gentler, more approachable, and I find it lacks a bit of punch. What’s more, the price is still quite high, so it would be nice to be offered something that’s really good. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ductape - Sevmiyor

Ardbeg 1978 Spirit of Scotland 22 yo c. 454

 

 

 

53°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2000

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

As you only live once, I treated myself to a few centilitres of this rare find in a specialist bar. It really is a piece of history, apparently, back then, Gordon & MacPhail went by the name of Speymalt Whisky Ltd, and the type of cask isn’t specified anywhere. However, it is indeed cask-strength, which wasn’t all that common at the time. As for the peat level, it varied back then, ranging from 40 to 80 ppm, as the distillery malted its own barley until 1980. It is, of course, impossible to know how many bottles were released. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

Light yet persistent peat, grainy and mineral, quartz and gypsum, with coastal notes, sea spray, dried seaweed, rubbed citrus, crystalline vanilla, lace-like iodine, coconut cream, cigarette ash, untreated wood. Very smooth and oily on the palate, citrusy, a few yellow plums, brown sugar, slightly minty or even aniseed-like spices, ginger, lychee. An extremely long and full-bodied finish, molasses, raisins, waxed wood, dried bananas, charcoal nuggets, chlorophyll, peppermint leaves. 

 

In Short, 

Old whiskies are always expensive, but they’re not always brilliant. That said, this one is still an excellent product, very old-school, meaning it has a lovely balance and a subtle minerality. The peat isn’t strong—around 30 ppm, I’d say—but the bottle has certainly been open for years, and it was almost finished. No jarring flavours, just a hint of charcoal on the finish, and plenty of fruit, especially on the palate, it really was a different distillery back then. Lots of elegance, restraint and complexity, yet not overly intense, it’s easy to drink despite being 22 years old. In short, a lovely experience, but not a mind-blower. The bottle can still be found, provided you’re prepared to empty your savings account. I’d advise waiting for it to come up at auction if you absolutely must have it, the price will be more reasonable. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            mesh - This World

Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength Committee Exclusive 2026 10 yo

 

 

 

61,7°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

American Oak Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

It is probably the first major release in the world of whisky in 2026. Many fans of the distillery, myself included, had long fantasised about a Ten Cask Strength, and the people at the distillery have finally agreed to make our dreams come true. This limited edition is therefore a replica of Ardbeg Ten, which has been around for over 25 years, but with a really high alcohol content. Personally, I think Ardbeg Ten is a total success, it is one of the very best bottlings still available for under E60, if not the best. So to have it in a Cask Strength version is truly an achievement. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is softer than the reduced version, the peat is less powerful than usual, iodine mingles with a fairly subtle vanilla, a zest of lemon, shovelfuls of salt and limestone, gravel, sleet. Plums and Conference pears. On the palate, however, it is something else entirely, oily, silky, very delicate, but with beautiful power. Vanilla Turkish delight, lychee juice, almond oil, then it becomes herbaceous, reeds, chives, lots of pepper and cloves. Violent finish, but not as much as I thought, mint, asparagus, vanilla icing, biscuit dough, a pinch of salt. White ashes.

 

In Short, 

It's better than I expected. Although the nose is a little subdued, it's very similar to the reduced version, but with less explosive peat. Then the palate is really delicious and subtle, leading to a powerful but not overly so finish, where once again the nuances prevail over the power. It reminds me more of the old Ardbegs than the recent ones, as the peat was much less strong and there was a more delicate and smooth profile. So there are significant differences with the reduced Ten, but fundamentally, it's the same DNA. The price is very attractive, provided you buy it in the right place, because on the secondary market it's just ridiculous. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Yndling - Some Things You Don't Get

Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release

 

 

 

51,7° 

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Heavily Charred Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm 

 

 

 

I had the opportunity to try the reduced version of this one, which I mentioned here. This one is the version reserved for members of the Committee Release, and it is cask strength. It is the special edition for Feis Ile 2021, a music and whisky festival held every year on the island of Islay. Heavily charred bourbon casks were used for the occasion, and it is said that these are the most heavily charred casks the distillery has ever used. Some even say that these are the Ardbeg Alligator casks that have actually been reused. If this is true, it allows us to estimate the approximate age of this Scorch, as the Alligator is the special edition for Feis Ile 2011, ten years earlier.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Good, rich limestone and iodine peat, with seaweed and fish scales, but also candied vanilla, lemon and grapefruit zest, lychees, parsley, thyme, and some very subtle floral notes. Sea breeze, dried seaweed and scallops. On the palate, it's more about almonds, orgeat, vanilla and pepper, cloves and cumin, but also cold ashes, charcoal and soot throughout. Very long and explosive finish, mineral, full of chalk, but also apples, and of course fuel oil, lignite, cola, a square of chocolate, coffee, dried figs.

 

In Short, 

It's very similar to the reduced version, just a few degrees stronger, which adds power and density, but otherwise the profile is exactly the same. It's surprising, given that the price is very different, I was expecting something significantly better, but that's not the case. That said, I've always thought it was one of Ardbeg's best limited editions, after Dark Cove and Ardbog, and my opinion hasn't changed. The only problem is that the price is ridiculously high. But if, like me, you have the opportunity to get your hands on half a bottle at a bargain price, don't hesitate. 

Score : 89  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Travo - Arrow of Motion

Ardbeg 8 yo For Discussion

 

 

 

50,8°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

1st Fill and Refill Bourbon Barrels, Refill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm 

 

 

 

This one was released in 2021, and at the time I managed to buy it, but the bottle sat in a corner waiting. It took me almost five years to open it. Now that I've finally done so, I'm a little late to the discussion. But better late than never, and how can you resist an aged Ardbeg? It's so rare. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Iodine freshness, pale smoke, white fruits, mirabelle plums, Comice pears, quartz, limestone, all sprinkled with icing sugar. Beautiful fullness after a moment. Creosote, gravel, gypsum, and a dash of vanilla. Some vegetables, fennel, celery. On the palate, it is quite fruity, slightly creamy, banana and candied grape, vanilla ice cream, lychees, the peat is discreet. Pepper and cumin, not too strong. Beautiful finish, long and powerful, blocks of charcoal, blond tobacco, vanilla icing, cloves, nutmeg, mocha. Chocolate cookie. 

 

In Short, 

The Bourbon barrels bring out the coastal and mineral notes, highlighting white fruits, but there are also subtle vegetal notes. The smoke is accompanied by a beautiful complexity that borders on indulgence. This is a lovely bottling, similar to Ten, with a slightly more powerful finish and more fruit. Five years after its release, it is still available, sometimes at a very reasonable price. Any Ardbeg enthusiast should give it a try. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           VUUR - My Champion - Berlin

An Islay Distillery 19 yo Macbeth A Whisky Collection The Witches Series First Witch

 

 

 

51,7°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

Seventeen bottlings have already been released, from 17 different distilleries, to illustrate the first 17 characters in the tragedy of Macbeth. That leaves 25 out of the 42 planned. And among the expressions in Act I, I hadn't had the opportunity to taste this 19-year-old from the island of Islay, which is in fact an Ardbeg. Ageing in Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butts should give it a fruity flavour. 1,800 bottles have flooded the shops.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Immediately, the typical Ardbeg heavy smoke, thick and charred, but also slightly sweet. Sharpening leather, fig cream, raisins, blood oranges, dark tobacco, and all kinds of candied fruit. Behind this, a touch of iodine and seaweed. On the palate, it is very intense, with oranges mingling with smoked bacon, blackberry jam sprinkled with cinnamon, dark chocolate, mocha, characterful spices. The finish is endless, powerful, chestnut cream, delicately bitter chocolate, damp black earth.

 

In Short, 

This is a truly memorable, even exceptional Ardbeg. The sherry is perfectly balanced and the peat is very intense without being overpowering. It's just perfect. Ardbeg has always been successful with its sherry cask maturation, and this one is no exception. That said, Ruben claims that it is a two-year finish, not a full maturation, but he is the only one to say so. In any case, it's a killer, sold at a completely crazy price.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           New Model Army - Vagabonds

Ardbeg Eureka ! 25 Years of the Ardbeg Committee

 

 

 

52,2°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Pedro Ximénez Sherry and Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm 

 

 

 

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee, this special bottling was launched in February 2025. As usual, it is non-age-stated, but made from roasted malt spirit matured in Bourbon casks and Pedro Ximénez casks. The result has an interesting alcohol content, but it is not cask strength. I would like to know how many bottles are available, but this information is being kept secret. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is relatively light, metallic fragments, rocky splinters, vaporous but powerful, enveloping smoke, patches of salt, limestone, sea spray, iodine, liquid vanilla. Mirabelle plums, white grapes, pastry cream, pomade. On the palate, it is successful, vanilla and coconut, rose water, then powerful spices, clove, black pepper, slight woody bitterness. Powerful and long finish, but not quite explosive, white chocolate, dried herbs, angelica, tarry rock, liquorice, dried figs.

 

In Short, 

I'll be honest: it seemed to me to be the best Ardbeg from the Committee in a long time. Hypernova is extremely good, but it's also very expensive, and apart from that one, you have to go back to Scorch, which dates back to 2021. That said, I haven't tasted everything; I'm missing Fermutation and Anamorphic. It's a good Ardbeg, with very pronounced mineral notes, more than maritime, and a real gourmand dimension. A must-try for any self-respecting fan of the distillery, but unfortunately the price is still too high. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Traitrs - I Was Ill, You Were Wrong

Ardbeg Smokiverse 25 Years of The Ardbeg Committee

 

 

 

48,3°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm 

 

 

 

To celebrate the Ardbeg Committee's 25th anniversary, a new limited edition was needed. This one stood out as the perfect bottling to represent everything the Ardbeg Committee has been doing for 25 years: no age statement, no mention of the casks used (I finally found a website where they talked about Bourbon casks, but it took a while), and no information on the number of bottles released either. But it has a quirky concept: the product was made from high gravity mash. In fact, it's just that less water and more malt than usual were used to produce the wort, which was therefore denser. The advantage is that a denser wort should produce more flavour, but you still need good quality casks and a fairly long ageing period to turn it all into a good whisky.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Suffocating peat, fairly intense herbaceous notes, angelica, liquorice stick, bay leaves. Lemon peel mixed with a good dose of iodine, sea spray, seaweed and kelp. Peppery, earthy and woody notes, seductive smoke. On the palate, it's not exceptional, but there is vigour, green apple, Italia grapes, aniseed, a pinch of pepper and, of course, a good dose of peat. Cumin and cloves, fresh walnuts. The finish is robust but not particularly long, with lots of vegetal notes, reeds, grass, water lilies, damp earth full of limestone, sunflower oil and macerated almonds.

 

In Short, 

It's always the same old story with Ardbeg: the nose is good, without being exceptional, the finish is powerful, but on the palate, it's too young and therefore watery. These little experiments are cute, but they end up getting tiresome. It's been a long time since I've had a limited edition that was better than, or even as good as, the Ten. What's more, the price is too high, it feels like a rip-off.

Score : 87  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Dead Cat - Post Scriptum

Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Barrels and Napa Valley Red Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Travel Retail Edition 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

The third Travel Retail bottling to be launched by Ardbeg is this one, a blend of Bourbon Barrels and red wine casks from Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon apparently. It seems that the entire batch was bottled in 2024, for a release in January 2025. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite intense peat, greasy smoke, cotton candy, subtle fruity notes in the background. Spongy wood, braised damsons, blackberry jam, overwhelming iodine. Sea spray, foam, almond paste. Finally, earthy notes, dry earth, crumbling. Tannins, tar, liquorice. It's quite clear on the palate, vanilla, but peppery, aniseed, candy that melts under the tongue, olive oil. The spices become stronger and stronger, cumin, cloves. Soft caramel. Quite violent, long finish, chicory, caramel, dripping charcoal, lots of liquorice. Dried red plums. Fragments of lignite.

 

In Short, 

All in all, it's not bad, but there are some major flaws. In my opinion, the liquid is very young, which means that the nose lacks a little complexity, and it's very light on the palate. Fortunately, the finish is really pleasant and makes up for it a little. It's the worst Ardbeg I've tasted so far, offering little of interest. At the price it's sold for, it's too expensive for what it is, but luckily I got it on special offer. I'm not sure I won't regret my purchase, though.

Score : 85  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           High Vis - Mind's a Lie

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

Ardbeg Anthology 13 yo The Harpy's Tale

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Ex-Bourbon and Sauternes Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

The Anthology range was launched in 2023 by Ardbeg, and this is its first incarnation. It was aged for 13 years and has been influenced by a few Sauternes wine casks. This interests me, as I have always enjoyed the combination of Sauternes and peat, which can sometimes be very successful.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Intense peat, but not too strong, herbaceous, mossy, dry earth, then the influence of Sauternes comes through. But it's not perfectly balanced, fermented fruit, slightly acidic mirabelle plums. With a drop of water, it softens, icing sugar, candied banana, pomegranate. Beeswax. Vanilla pastry cream, rum baba. It is airy, but also mineral, quartz, slate. Candied lemon. On the palate, it is oily, almost thick, the peat is discreet, few spices. Liquid honey, white peaches, green pears, olives. Long and powerful finish, charcoal, cola, slight bitterness, mahogany bark, dried asparagus.

 

In Short, 

I'm a bit disappointed. It's not often that you find an Ardbeg of this age, and it's not particularly successful. The balance on the nose isn't perfect, but it improves with a few drops of water and some patience. It's good, but I was expecting better. In my humble opinion, the asking price is too high.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lindy-Fay Hella - Los

Ardbeg Hypernova Committee HN2022 Release

 

 

 

51°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 170 ppm

 

 

 

Between 2009 and 2019, there were five editions of Supernova, peated beyond 100 ppm. But with this one, we're going even further, with no less than 170 ppm on the meter, making this whisky one of the most peated in the world, and the most peated Ardbeg. Reserved for members of the Ardbeg Committee, it is a very large-scale limited edition.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Intense peat, very thick, clumps of earth, mud, damp hay, slowly dripping tar. Different shades of charcoal. Beyond that, sanded wood, dry almonds, ethereal vanilla, creosote. Crumbling gypsum, in the dampness of a cave, with splinters of limestone, chalk, granite. Half-flooded tunnel, abandoned well. Goose fat, paraffin. Coppery notes. On the palate, it's a little young, but also very waxy. After a while, lovely velvety texture, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, varnished wood. Candied figs. Peat is embedded in each of the flavours. Spices are very present, but not overpowering. Long and powerful finish, like a tidal wave, lumpy coal, a drop of caramel, greasy earth, chocolate fondant. Cola nuts, very slight bitterness.

 

In Short, 

It's an exceptional experience, whether you like it or not. For me, it's one of the most peaty whiskies in the world, because every effort has been made to ensure that the peat present in the malted barley is reflected in the final product, which is not necessarily the case with Octomore. The casks used must have been refill casks, and even several times over, as their influence is barely noticeable. On the other hand, it is a little monolithic on the nose, inevitably, as there is almost nothing but peat, and it is light on the palate because it is young. It needs to be young to retain the power of the peat. That said, they should have bottled it at cask strength, as the liquid would have been denser. Despite its minor flaws, what has been achieved here is truly beyond comprehension, and any whisky enthusiast should take an interest in it. It is one of the extremes of the spectrum of flavours that whisky can offer.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Faetooth - White Noise                                    

Ardbeg Guaranteed 17 yo

 

 

40°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 1997

Uncoloured

Lightly Peated 

 

 

 

In 1997, The Glenmorangie Company had just bought the Ardbeg distillery, which was undergoing extensive renovation. In the meantime, the best thing to do was to reopen the old stocks and bottle them. This is how this 17-year-old whisky came into being, one of the first bottlings to be launched after the reopening in 1997. It is reduced to 40% ABV and chill-filtered, which is extremely rare for Ardbeg. Very quickly, the liquid must have been aged for more than 17 years, as the distillery was completely closed between 1981 and 1989. So, from 2000 onwards, the whisky was at least 18 years old, and it aged with each additional year. In 2004, it was at least 22 years old, which is starting to be interesting for a product that is sold as a 17-year-old. But that's when it became too complicated, and they discontinued it. In the years that followed, this bottling became increasingly legendary, until it was resurrected for a limited edition in 2024, twenty years later. But that's another story. The other distinctive feature of this whisky is that unpeated barley was used, combined with peated barley, resulting in a lightly peated nectar, which is also a rarity. All these elements make this stuff mythical, and I'm very happy to be able to enjoy a dram of it.    

  

 

Let's Taste It : 

Mellow nose, bread dough, marzipan, bit of peat, vanilla cream and toasted wheat, varnished wood, egg custard, a pinch of icing sugar. In the background, powerful iodine, but also some exotic fruits, pineapple, papaya, mango, lemon sorbet. Tart Tatin, heather honey, crystalline shades of salt. On the palate, it is obviously a little light, but delicately fruity, silky, pistachio Turkish delight, rose water, coconut pulp, a hint of limestone, perfectly controlled spices, nutmeg, tarragon, horseradish. Dried figs. A deeply herbaceous peat gradually comes to the fore. Long finish with a certain power, slightly bitter wood, cola nuts.

 

In Short, 

The nose is truly fantastic. I've never experienced anything like it with this distillery. It's light, airy, very fruity, supple and subtle. The peat is barely noticeable, no medicinal notes, tar or other oddities. However, there are some typical elements, such as herbaceous notes, lemon, iodine, and a smoothness that develops when the glass is left to rest for a long time. Unfortunately, it is watery on the palate and finish, as the reduction to 40% ABV detracts from the texture of the product. At cask strength, it would have been an exceptional masterpiece. As it is, only the nose is incredible. The rest is very interesting, I would say, but nothing more. It is therefore difficult to give a rating, it is sublime with major flaws. Apparently, you have to be careful, as the last batches were of questionable quality, whereas the first ones are magnificent. I must have had one of the first ones. Today, this gem sells for an extremely high price, but I understand why. I get the impression that Ardbeg was very different before the closure, which is what I had already been told, and now I can see that this seems to be the case.  

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Red House Painters - Drop

Ardbeg Heavy Vapours

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

Bottled in December 2022 but released in May 2023 for Feis Ile, this is the latest limited edition batch from Ardbeg. It was distilled without using the still purifier, which normally captures excessively heavy vapours, allowing them to be released this time around.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

Powerful but fairly clear smoke, peat rubbed with icing sugar. Vanilla sweets, lychees, crème fraîche. Then comes the distillery's typical herbaceous character, with a few iodine notes and a hint of candied lemon zest. In the background, tar, gravel, a hint of fuel oil that sticks to your fingers. Hot caramel. Beautiful maritime breadth, damp cellar, even half-flooded. The palate, on the other hand, is too light despite a mountain of peat and various spices. Pear, white peach, apple, and that's it. Fairly good finish, long but not really strong, hot ashes, black pepper, damp earth, cumin. Sheep's cheese. Mint pastille.

 

In Short, 

Overall, I found it rather gentle, reminiscent of Ten but younger and sweeter, with nothing heavy about it. I liked the nose, but it lacks a little complexity, the finish is OK, but on the palate it clearly lacks maturity and consistency. At the price it's sold for, they could have made more of an effort. I wouldn't buy it, even at half price. A few years ago, I said that Drum was the weakest of the limited editions, but frankly, Drum is very good compared to this one.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Hanggai - The Vast Grassland

Ardbeg BizarreBQ

 

 

 

50,9°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Double Charred Oak, Sherry and Experimental BBQ Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

This limited edition was released just over two years ago now. It is the result of one of those crazy experiments, with BBQ casks that came from who knows where. There are also double charred casks, which means you'll really notice the charcoal. Fortunately, a few sherry casks are there to soften the atmosphere.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Heavy charcoal smoke, oily wisps, fresh vanilla, sea spray, crushed raspberries, toasted oak, artichoke heart, chalky and earthy peat. Quite strong medicinal notes, ether, disinfectant. Veins of lignite, blueberry jam. Smoked ham, Viandox. Charred steak. On the palate, cooking oil, red fruit coulis, pomegranate juice, dark chocolate, coal nuggets, thick and herbaceous peat. Very measured spices. Long finish, close to explosive, redcurrants and dragon fruit, liquid butter, anthracite, pipe tobacco, toasted leather.

 

In Short, 

It's a pleasant, well-made whisky, very meaty and smoky, which really does remind you of a barbecue. The nose really evolves, starting with lots of smoke and charcoal, saturated with red fruit, then coated with coastal notes and a hint of vanilla. I liked it, but I find it smells a lot like something burnt. I prefer my steak cooked medium. To be honest, I find the price disproportionate, especially now that it's only available on the secondary market.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           The Bombpops - Outta Hand

Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla Edition

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

American Oak and Manzanilla Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Travel Retail Edition 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

Ardbeg's Travel Retail range was launched in 2022. It was to be called Smoketrails. Three bottlings have been released so far, and this is the first, resulting from a blend of simple American Oak casks with Manzanilla Sherry casks. As is almost always the case with this distillery, the age is not specified, but it is non-chill filtered.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Dry and grassy peat, blond tobacco, sherry brings a beautiful fruitiness, mirabelle and greengage plums, grapefruit, liquid honey, powerful smoke, solid and rocky minerality, waxed wood, basalt, granite. The iodine is subtle, but still noticeable, with a hint of sea spray, foam and a pinch of salt. On the palate, it works very well, it is oily, rose water blends with peat, lychees, lime, controlled spices, icing sugar, leading to a very long, explosive, peppery finish. Almond paste, coconut, vanilla ice cream.

 

In Short, 

I really enjoyed it. I think the combination of Bourbon and Manzanilla Sherry works well, and it goes nicely with the Ardbeg profile. It reminds me of Ardbeg Ten, but smoother and a little less iodised. The price is an issue, it's too expensive for a NAS, but if you shop around, you can find it at a reasonable price. 

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Bloodbark - Time is Nothing

Ardbeg Smoketrails Côte Rôtie Edition

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon and Côte Rôtie Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Travel Retail Edition

Single Malt 

Launched in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm 

 

 

 

The Smoketrails range is exclusively for travel retail. Three bottlings have been released so far, and this is the second, launched in October 2023. It is a blend of Bourbon and Côte Rôtie wine casks, a French wine appellation from the Côtes du Rhône.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The thick smoke typical of Ardbeg, but with a certain sweetness. Iodine, sea spray and a few vinous notes, polished wood and caramel, light tannins. Hot chestnuts, charred, chocolate cake, mahogany, cinnamon and cloves. Almond paste. On the palate, some fruit, plums and grapes, but very quickly the herbaceous peat takes over, with peppery spices. Roasted hazelnuts, heather, rosemary. Fairly long finish but not quite explosive, knob of caramel, cola, fine charcoal, clumps of spongy peat, artichoke heart, ginger, dark and thick honey. Bubbles of fuel oil.

 

In Short, 

You can barely taste the fruit, which in my opinion is a good thing. The wine casks mainly add sweetness and woody aromas, which soften the Ardbeg profile without distorting it, so I'm satisfied. It's not a great whisky, but it's very pleasant to drink if you're a fan of the distillery, it goes down a treat. As for the price, it's sometimes very high for what it is, but luckily I got it on special offer and it was perfect.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Spellling - Portrait of my Heart

Ardbeg 2009 Sansibar 15 yo

 

 

 

52,8°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Sansibar

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm 

Sansibar is an independent German bottler founded in 2005 by Jens Drewitz. They are one of the pioneers of whisky distribution in Germany, before Best Dram, Whisky Druid or Brühler Whiskyhaus. Today they are releasing a series of white-labelled bottlings in honour of the DeinWhisky.de website, available only there. These include this Ardbeg, aged for 15 years and matured in a Sherry Butt. Unfortunately, there is no indication of the number of bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A small uppercut of Ardbegian peat, thick and powerful smoke, white ash, sandstone and chalk. Lime pulp in the background, and an ounce of icing sugar, a dash of vanilla, evanescent iodine, cotton wools, slices of unripe pineapple, soya milk. Then the fruit really takes off, mirabelle plums, reines claudes and banana, but still that kick of peat and alcohol at times, at others lychees, crème fraîche, apple doughnut. The palate is really pure and delicious, plums sprinkled with lemon, but the spices, white pepper and ginger, make themselves felt. The finish is long and very controlled, with citrus syrup, vanilla coulis, liquid honey and rare herbaceous notes.

 

In Short, 

A superb Ardbeg, lacking only a little power and length to be exceptional. Fans should not hesitate, I find it a little expensive for what it is, but those are the market prices unfortunately.

Score : 90  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Graveyard Lillies - Venom in her Veins