Ardbeg 25 years oldi (2022 Release) /46%/ –
The launch of Ardbeg 25 years old in 2020 was celebrated by thousands (millions) of whisky afficionados all over the world. The batch limited to 6500 bottles was sold on the spot and even if the outrun was ten times greater it would cover just a fraction of demand. Back in the 1990s Ardbeg operated at less than 50% of its modest capacity and the whisky produced there was often dumped into blends. “After a quarter of a century in the cask, you’d be forgiven for imaging that Ardbeg 25 years old would have lost some of the hallmark Ardbeg punch. I can assure you it hasn’t” said dr. Bill Lumsden, head of whisky creation. “There is also a remarkable complexity and elegance to this whisky that I find utterly captivating – Ardbeg, but unlike Ardbeg you’ve tasted before”. The 2022 edition was composed of whiskies aged in ex-bourbon casks.
Aroma: a pungent burst of smoked cream, peppermint and toffee, with Ardbeg’s classic fennel and pine resin. Distant earthy bonfires mix with herbal and fruity (banana and tropical) notes, along with fragrant candle wax.
Taste: an extremely vibrant, hot peppery mouthfeel leads into a burst of sherbet lemon sweetness (candied apples, pears and orange), hints of carbolic soap and tar, more creamy toffee, aniseed and chili pepper.
Finish: long, mellow and lingering, with lots of cream, fudge and delicate antiseptic notes; an elegant soothing style of Ardbeg.
