‘AGED AND CAGED’ 25 YEARS OLD BECOMES THE OLDEST ADDITION TO THE ARDBEG CORE RANGE
Islay Distillery releases old and rare expression which proves that age cannot tame Ardbeg’s smoky power
Ardbeg has released the oldest and most prestigious expression yet to join its permanent range of whiskies.
Ardbeg 25 Years Old is a supreme single malt that proves unequivocally that age cannot tame Ardbeg’s smoky power, but it can yield some of the most complex and majestic flavours ever to emerge from the Distillery. It offers whisky lovers the opportunity to experience Ardbeg at its most intricate, balanced and beguiling.
The spirit was distilled during the 1990s, at a time when Ardbeg Distillery was only producing a trickle of new make spirit every year. Ardbeg from this period is therefore extremely rare, but the whisky creation team deemed that after a quarter of a century, the malt was so exquisite that it should be bottled and released as a permanent expression – albeit in limited quantities.
Fittingly for such a precious whisky, Ardbeg 25 Years Old is presented in a unique gun metal bottle encased in an beautifully intricate metal ‘cage’ – a modern take on the classic Ardbeg knotwork, and symbolic of the untamed complexity of this extraordinary whisky.
Ardbeg’s Whisky Creator, Dr Bill Lumsden, said: “After a quarter of a century in the cask, you’d be forgiven for imagining that Ardbeg 25 Years Old would have lost some of the hallmark Ardbeg smoky punch. I can assure you it hasn’t. And yet there’s also a remarkable complexity and elegance to this whisky that I find utterly captivating. It’s unmistakably Ardbeg, but unlike any Ardbeg you’ve tasted before.”
Ardbeg 25 Years Old is released worldwide this week and available from Clos19.com and whisky specialists, RRP: £710.
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NOTES:
TASTING NOTES
Bottled from incredibly rare casks filled during the 1990s, this supreme expression is Ardbeg at its most intricate, balanced and beguiling.
ABV: 46%
Colour:
Bright Amber
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 chilli pepper.
Finish:
A long, mellow, lingering aftertaste, with lots of cream, fudge and delicate antiseptic notes. An elegant, soothing style of Ardbeg.
RRP: £710
Ardbeg:
Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.
Ardbeg Committee:
The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries. Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.
Awards:
Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky. Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions. Ardbeg was twice awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013). At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’. The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100. Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2019, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the third time in four years. Ardbeg 10 Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award.
The Glenmorangie Company:
The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.
Responsible Drinking:
Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.