Ardbeg 25 yo

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No

Special Features:

Ardbeg 25 Years Old combines a quarter-century of maturation with the Islay distillery’s still unmistakable smoky power. The single malt comes from rare casks filled in the 1990s, when Ardbeg was producing only very small quantities. It joined the permanent core range in 2021 as its oldest age statement, although scarce stocks limit the quantities available.

The whisky matures in bourbon casks. Its mature character brings added finesse alongside smoke, creaminess, herbs and fruit, without losing its distinctive smoky power. This official bottling contains 0.7 litres and is bottled at 46% without chill filtration. The premium box includes an intricately designed metal casing that gives the traditional Ardbeg knot motif a contemporary interpretation and surrounds the metallic grey bottle.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Smoked cream, peppermint and toffee define the nose, accompanied by fennel and pine resin. A distant, earthy bonfire mingles with herbs, banana and tropical fruit notes, while fragrant candle wax adds another dimension.
• Palate: The whisky opens with a distinctly lively, hot and peppery mouthfeel, followed by the sweetness of lemon sorbet and candied fruit notes of apple, pear and orange. Subtle hints of medicinal soap and tar meet creamy toffee, aniseed and chilli heat.
• Finish: The finish is long, soft and lingering. Plenty of cream and fudge combine with subtle antiseptic, medicinal notes for an elegant, gentle aftertaste. Delicate aniseed notes complete the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Ardbeg, on Islay’s southern coast, is the distillery behind this single malt, which is released as an official bottling. John Macdougall established Ardbeg as a licensed commercial operation in 1815. Its later history included several periods of inactivity: the distillery closed in 1981, resumed small-scale production for blends in 1989 and closed again in 1991. The Glenmorangie Company bought Ardbeg in 1997, reopened the distillery and began full-time production. The rare stocks from the 1990s connect this 25-year-old bottling with that uncertain period in the distillery’s history before its revival.

Facts: