Ardbeg 25 Year

Orchard and vegetation on the nose. Subtle smoke. Oily and mellow on the palate. Subtle but pleasant. Mild peat on the finish. Certainly enjoyable, hardly worth the price for most.

When talking about rare whiskies, an open bottle of an Ardbeg, that has been matured for at least one quarter of a century is quite the finding. Since the release of this new 25yo expression, i have been searching for a glass of it, but it was impossible to get until the day i entered the great bar at Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. There, along other incredible findings, it was available for the humble public to drink it without having to pay for a full bottle. Bottled at 46%abv, it is the oldest age statement for an Ardbeg these days. The only other 25yo expression that existed before this one, was the mythical "Lord of the Isles", a whisky that i have been seeking but i never found. On the nose, it took a long time to fully open. Cardamom, red chilli and Ardbeg's traditional peat. Acid prunes, a pair of new socks and floral notes. It has an orange aroma that i find so rare for an Ardbeg. It is like a pair of wet converse shoes. A little dim, not too clean and lacking some emotion. On the palate, it starts with vanilla and a note that i can describe as muddy water. Acid prunes, earthy and herbal. Spices and smoke on the second sip; salt. Grassy and herbal. Aftertaste was too straightforward, but rewarding. A classic note of a can of new tennis balls. Red chilli and salt. Overall, i was a little underwhelmed by this one. It is not a bad whisky by any means, but for a thousand dollars, you expect complexity, layers of aromas and flavors, but that does not occur here. This one feels like it has lost the smokey profile and the power that you know from this distillery, and that is something that i have been noticing in old Ardbegs, and this one is no exception to that rule. I truly believe that younger expressions are better. My score for it is a honest 89 over 100.

Very smooth.

Nice creamy creme brulee thing going on, smoke is subdued and well-integrated. Probably not worth the asking price, but it's good.

Elegant salty smoke perfect with oysters. Nose: Honey, Iodine, Sea Shells, Salted Cod, Papayas, Peaches, Cherries, Barbecue Ribs, Oranges, Almonds, Fruit Punch Palate: Smoke, Peaches, Vanilla, Grapefruits, Mangoes, Pineapples, Cherries, Almonds, Coal, Tar Finish: Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Coal, Salted Cod, Brine, Salted Caramel, Oysters

Dry dry smoke. Some creaminess as it softens