Ardbeg 25 Years Old

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Producer: Ardbeg Distillery Ltd (LVHM)

Category: Single Malt

Age: 25 years old

Barrel Type: Bourbon, though not revealed on the bottle.

Alcohol Content: 46% (92 proof)

Size: 750ml

Level: Intermediate

“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 smoky punch. I can assure you it hasn’t….” Dr. Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s chief whisky creator whisky “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.”

This expression was released on 2020. It took 2 years until it was available in Mexico, 2024. The bottle we tasted was bottled on May 18, 2023 (L2486015/001217). Identifying the year is relevant because it’s a quarter century old bottle, meaning it comes from the era when the distillery was barely operating. After two acquisitions by different firms and a sharp drop in sales, the distillery was forced to close in 1991. It wasn’t until sic years later that Ardbeg was bought by the LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), where Stuart Thomson took over the distillery management until 2006.

I’m surprised that the branddecided to release this Ardbeg 25 Year Old expression as “the oldest base-range whisky” in 2020 instead of 2023, when they could already offer an expression with the whisky distilled by themselves after reopening. I wonder if the profile of whisky changed in those past couple of years. Whatever the reason, it’s undoubtedly interesting for collectors to acquire a bottle with whisky distilled before its reopening.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Soft peat smoke with fairly pronounced citrus notes and slighty spicy, as if the years have tamed the whisky’s character. The main notes are orange zest and lemon peel. We also find vanilla, pine resin, ashes, a slight fruity sweetness (green apple and banana), and some floral notes.

Palate: Warm and a little bit spicy, medium bodied and oily. Slightly salty with some sweet note underneath (Ripe peaches and apricots).

Aftertaste: Long, initially overwhelm by peat, saltiness, smoke and iodine. Later, what lingers in the mouth is sweetness, spices, and woody and leathery notes.

Given the limited information revealed about its origin, the casks used, and maturation, it’s clear that the brand’s focus is on storytelling. With a slogan that reads: “Untamed by Time. Unequivocally Ardbeg.” and a packaging that pays homage to the history of silversmithing on Islay. Ardbeg 25 is presented in a unique dark gray metal bottle enclosed in a metal cage, it is a modern interpretation of the classic Ardbeg knotwork. This packaging symbolizes the whisky’s untamed complexity.

It’s interesting how the second time I tasted this whisky, the aroma reminded me of Laphroaig 25 Year Old. At the time of writing this review, I’d returned a couple more times and I believe they are indeed related, with Ardbeg being less fruity. It’s a Intermediate whisky, (refer to My Whisky Rating System) as the whisky continues to offer notes that appear and disappear, giving it a nice depth.

Finally, adding a little water brings out the smoke and other notes that undoubtedly remind us that we’re drinking an Ardbeg, just as its slogan suggests: “Untamed by Time. Unequivocally Ardbeg.” If we were to describe it, we’d find tar, earthiness, lemon zest, and marine notes, like smoked fish. Water is not recommended for this whisky, as it takes away its elegance and body.

My Rating:

I clasify whisky into 4 categories: Introdutory, Casual, Intermediate and Complex. and from there I rate each one acording to their aroma, palate, complexity and palatability

Level: Intermediate

Aroma: 4/5

Palate: 3/5

Complexity: 4/5

Palatability: 4/5

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Official website: https://www.ardbeg.com/