The first iteration of Ardbeg 17 Year Old was released over 25 years ago in 1997 and proved exceedingly popular among members of the Ardbeg Committee. Alas, it was retired in 2004, and many thought it would never be seen again. Thank goodness that isn't the case! Behind the scenes, led by master distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Ardbeg gang worked to recreate the original, mirroring its distinctive medicinal minerality and sweet smoke, layered with tarry peat for the return of this revered single malt in 2024.
Fresh and clean, with hints of pine resin, aniseed, sea spray and lavender soap- very gentle, very restrained, and rather elegant for an Ardbeg. With water, there is a distinctive, flinty minerality, along with subtle hints of sweet peat smoke, malted barley, and a touch of toasting bread.
A beautiful, creamy texture is followed by a lovely combination of flavours, with aniseed toffee, café latte, fennel and gentle antiseptic soap. The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.
The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.
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