Ardbeg 1976 31 Years - Single Cask #2397

DESCRIPTION

A legendary vintage release from Ardbeg in the years after they were acquired by Glenmorangie. Matured for 31 years in a sherry butt and bottled at cask strength in 2008.

TASTING NOTES (by Whiskyfun.com)

A sister cask of our beloved #2390 for Feis Ile 2002, or of other 239*s for Japan, Italy or Feis Ile 2004 – all fab. Also one of the very last old officials, I don't think they ever issued another one after 2008. Colour: full gold. Nose: more brutal than the old Cadenhead, which is normal, and all on chocolate and wood smoke at first nosing, although the sherry isn’t too big. Also quite some oxtail stock, parsley, old oven, Chinese sweet and sour sauce, chives, even garlic… A funny one! Then more damp earth, mushrooms, pipe tobacco, soot, charcoal… And then more and more unlit Havana cigars. Well, a whole box. With water: same aromas, twice as much. The best use of water and the closest you can come to ‘nosing’ a full box of well-aged Habanos. Mouth: impressively assertive and perfectly in keeping with the nose, with more or less the same notes. Something Chinese over a thick layer of peat, tar and soot, with quite some cough syrup, old herbal liqueurs and beef stock. Amazing richness despite an oakiness that’s maybe a notch loudish (cocoa powder). Nuoc-mâm sauce. With water: a few green tannins (ginger, nutmeg) but other than that, it’s all very perfect. Please call the anti-maltoporn brigade! Finish: very long, greatly sourish (that Chinese sweet and sour sauce again), earthy, ashy, smoky… With a lot of pepper-flavoured chocolate in the aftertaste. The circle is now complete! Comments: ultra-dry. There are very few problems that an old Ardbeg can’t solve – maybe that’s why some call them ‘orgasmic’ ;-). SGP:277 - 94 points.

PRODUCT SUMMARY