It is amazing to recall that in the 90s and early 2000s casks of Ardbeg from 60s, 70s, and 90s were floating around for brokers, blenders, and bottlers to buy. My how things have changed! Ardbeg rarely appears from independent bottlers, though more have begun to come through lately. The whole practice of selling casks has changed with many distilleries requiring first right of refusal on any inventory that blenders might offload. In the case of Ardbeg, many casks ended up in the hands of independent bottlers when the distillery closed for much of the 1980s and part of the 90s, but that availability dried up for much of the 2000s as the scotch whisky entered into a long boom. 

---

Whisky: Ardbeg 14 Year (2008), The Whisky Sponge “Kildalton Single Malt”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 60%

Cask: Refill Sherry Butt

Age: 14 Years (Distilled 2008, Bottled 2023)

Notes: Coastal and brooding, the aroma spoke to wind-swept beaches, flickering oil lamps, chimney smoke, and tarry ropes. Brine and minerals hung in the background while tobacco danced with medicinal notes of camphor, menthol, horehound, cinnamon, and cracked black pepper. Medium-bodied and oily, the flavors were rugged and untamed with peppery spirit and peat landing in the briny surf and billowing smoke. Wet burlap, or soaked hessian, appeared with tarry ropes, smoked kippers, a hint of tobacco, and a dash of camphor and menthol. The influence of the sherry cask was only felt around the edges with hints of fruit accenting sweet smoked fish. The finish was medium to long with brine, pepper, and a touch of smoked fish.

---

Score: 7-8 (86)

Mental Image: Anti-Malarial Regimes

Conclusion: Strikingly different than modern Ardbeg at times, this reminded me a lot of a slightly younger Ardbeg from a bit later in the 70s. It had similar refined sugar, medicinal, industrial, and maritime qualities, though with more power. Not all of those elements are absent modern Arbeg, but the intensity of them has been rearranged and I find the contemporary malt less prone to the refined sugar quality and more likely to be a bit acrid. 

On the balance, I do not have a clear preference across eras of Ardbeg, not without some additional exploration (but my expense of doing so!) Overall, this was a tasty one. I still have not fallen in love with 1970s Ardbeg to the level of some, but that may well reflect a lack of access than anything.

Image Credit: The Whisky Exchange