ARDBEG
| Location : | Ardbeg, Port Ellen, south-earstern shore of Islay, Strathclyde Region. (North east of Laphroaig and Lagavulin.) Islay, Argyllshire. |
| Country : | Scotland |
| Region : | West Coast Islay |
| Distillery : | ARDBEG DISTILLERY Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll PA82 7DU (Isle of Islay PA42 7EB) Phone: +44 01496-302244 (+44 1496 302418) Fax: 01496-302040 (+44 1496 302496) Manager : Ian Henderson No visitor centre. |
| Owner : | Hiram Walker (since the 1950s) Producer : Allied Distillers |
| Founded: | Approximate 1815 by the McDougall family. The distillery may have its origins as far back as 1794, and was definitely operating by 1817. |
| Water : | Lake Loch Arinambeast and its own private water source - Loch Uigeadale and Uigedale. |
| Remark : | The distillery have 1 wash still and 1 spirit still. They use refill casks. Michael Jackson writes : It's the earthiness of Ardbeg, its guests of peat smoke, leafy bonfires and tar, that make it the most traditional of island whiskies. They use local barley and peat from in production. From the book 'The Scottish Collection' - classic malts by Carol P. Shaw: This distillery was opened in 1815 and was one of several established near the sea in an area which was originally used by smugglers. It was bought by Hiram Walker in the 1950's primarily to use its produce in belnding; blenders use Islay malts in the way that a chef might use a strong flavour like garlic. Nearby Lochs Uigeadale and Arinambeast supply the water which, together with local peat, produces a distinctively Islay Malt. Ardbeg is operated by Allied Distillers but they do not sell its produce officially as a single malt. |
| Danish Remark : | En røget whisky med lang eftersmag. Måske lige i overkanten for begyndere, men har man 'lært' at værdsætte røg og malt så er Ardbeg bestemt et godt bud. |
| Ardbeg 10 years old. | |
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| Age : | 10 Years old |
| Type : | Single Islay Malt - Scotch whisky |
| Vol : | 40% |
| Ardbeg 17 years old. | |
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| Age : | 17 Years old |
| Vol : | 40% |
| Type : | Single Islay Malt - Scotch whisky |
| Price : | 100 Cls. Dkr. 319,- tax free in Whisky World Copenhagen Airport. |
| Nose : | The gentlest of peats, yet deep and confident with an enticing sweetness - a heady mixture of malts and vanillins. Vaguely salty and very complex with the oak present but very much in harness. Just a hint of bourbon and an even fainter hint of tangy orange to widen the spectrum. |
| Taste : | There is a much greater presence of peat in the taste than the nose suggests. The smokiness quickly hits the palate and then tapes off. That said, the middle shows an excellent 'chewy' malt alongside a touch of cocoa. |
| Finish : | The peat returns and guarantees an enormously long finale. The taste of the malt clings on and hints of liquorice and dry toast are detected. This form of oakiness continues but never becomes sappy or too dry as the peat balances this out beautifully. |
| Ardbeg 20 years old. | |
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| Age : | 20 Years old |
| Vol : | 51,2% |
| Ardbeg Vintage 1964. | |
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| Age : | ? Years old |
| Vol : | 40,?% |
| Type : | Single Islay Malt - Scotch whisky |
| Bottled by : | Gordon and Macphail. |
| Ardbeg Vintage 1967. | |
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| Age : | 28 Years old |
| Vol : | 53,7% |
| Type : | Single Islay Malt - Scotch whisky |
| Ardbeg Vintage 1974 Connoisseurs Choice. |
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| Age : | It's a vintage. |
| Vol : | 40% |
| Type : | Single Islay Malt - Scotch whisky |
| Remark : | We tested a Gordon and MacPhail vintage 1974 - Yehaaa. Here you have the ultimative Islay with the longest - strongest and Islay palate of them all. Beginners : Do not try this one home alone. From the book 'The Scottish Collection' - classic malts by Carol P. Shaw: With a dominant aroma and insistent peatiness, Ardbeg's flavour is balanced by sweeter tones. Considered the most pungent of all Scotch whiskies, it is available from independent bottlers. |
| Bottled by : | Gordon & MacPhail. |
| Price : | :( it's quite expencive 70cls approx 1.000,- dkr. |
| Ardbeg Vintage 1974 | |
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| Age : | ? Years old / Vintage ! |
| Vol : | ?% |
| Type : | Single Islay Malt - Scotch whisky |
| Remark : | Perhaps some of the last bottles available before Ardbeg stoped using floor malting. |
| Ardbeg Vintage 1978 | |
| Sorry no picture... | |
| Age : | 19 Years old - bottled in 1997. |
| Vol : | 43% |
| Type : | Single Islay Malt - Scotch whisky |
| Bottled by : | ? |
| Price : | 70 Cls. Dkr. 439,- tax free in Whisky World Copenhagen Airport. |
| Remark : | Currently beeing tested. Smokey with a long finish. - A bit more smooth than vintage 1974 and the 17 years old. |
| LINKS.......... | to official Ardbeg or related web pages. |
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ARDBEG |
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