Ardbeg 25 Year Old is the oldest whisky in Ardbeg's permanent range, an Islay single malt that shows how the distillery's famously smoky spirit softens and deepens over a quarter of a century. It is matured in ex-bourbon casks, bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered, and presented in a striking pewter-toned bottle and a black box laced with a silver, web-like pattern.
The whisky is drawn from stocks laid down in the 1990s, a time when Ardbeg was barely producing. Those casks are now extremely scarce, which makes every bottle of the 25 Year Old a rare taste of the distillery's past. Twenty-five years in American oak have tamed Ardbeg's peat into a smoky cream, layered with peppermint, toffee, tropical fruit and lemon sherbet, while keeping the tarry, medicinal edge that Ardbeg lovers seek out.
Ardbeg stands on the south coast of Islay and is celebrated for some of the peatiest, most complex whiskies in Scotland. The 25 Year Old shows the other side of that character: still unmistakably Ardbeg, but mellow, rounded and endlessly layered. It is a whisky to explore slowly and a milestone bottle for any collection of Islay malt.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: A pungent burst of smoked cream, peppermint and toffee, with fennel and pine resin, bonfire smoke, banana, tropical fruit and candle wax.
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Palate: A peppery heat followed by lemon sherbet sweetness; candied apple, pear and orange, with carbolic soap, tar, aniseed and chilli.
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Finish: Long and mellow, with cream, fudge and a light antiseptic note.
Specifications
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Producer: Ardbeg Distillery
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Style: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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Age: 25 years
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Proof / ABV: 92 proof (46% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: Ex-bourbon casks; non-chill filtered
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Region: Islay, Scotland
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Pour it neat into a nosing glass and give it a few minutes to breathe; the smoke settles and the fruit and toffee rise. A few drops of water open up the citrus and soften the pepper. It pairs well with smoked salmon, oysters, dark chocolate or a strong cigar. As the oldest bottling in Ardbeg's range, it makes an exceptional gift for a peated whisky lover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the whisky in Ardbeg 25 Year Old?
Every drop is at least 25 years old, drawn from stocks laid down in the 1990s.
What casks is Ardbeg 25 matured in?
Ex-bourbon casks; it is bottled non-chill filtered at 46% ABV.
Is Ardbeg 25 peated?
Yes; it is an Islay malt with Ardbeg's signature smoke, softened by 25 years in oak.
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