Ardbeg Distillery 1975 March Distilled 2002 May Bottled 27 Year Old Douglas Laing - Old Malt Cask Single Cask Bottling Matured in Sherry Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky ABV 50% Vol 70cl / 700ml

DESCRIPTION

A 1975 vintage single cask Ardbeg from Douglas Laing as part of their Old Malt Cask series. This was the first year of Ardbeg using large amounts of barley produced away from their maltings. Add in 27 years in a sherry cask and this is an intriguing and unusual expression of Ardbeg.

TASTING NOTES (by Whiskyfun.com)

Colour: dark amber. Nose: very first sniffs suggest that this one is overloaded with sherry but Ardbeg is big whisky as we all know and it does manage to have its say after a few seconds. Reminds me of coffee with plum spirit (ja, Kaffeeschnapps) for a while, but then we have these faintly sourish notes again – nothing unpleasant, though. Something like lemon liqueur-filled chocolate. Also notes of old walnuts, a little rubber, ham (make that York)... As often, big notes of camphor and eucalyptus arise after a moment, liquorice... Also black olives, earth, tar... It’s big but very complex whisky for sure. I’m curious to see if our second sherried Ardbeg (1975 OB) will behave in front of this one. Mouth: hmm, mixed feelings at the attack for there’s kind of a dustiness but then the whole takes off despite its high concentration. Pine resin, thick cough syrup, liquorice, peat, tar and orange marmalade and then spices (cloves, rosemary, nutmeg, cinnamon –lots – and pepper). Hyper-rich, really. Finish: very long, concentrated, maybe just a tad rubbery and oaky again now, with a nice afterglow on peppered plum jam and chocolate. A very rich Ardbeg but again, if don’t like sherry in your peat – or reversely, beware! SGP:467 – 92 points.

PRODUCT SUMMARY