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7th May 2024 |
Ardbeg today
unveiled a rare vintage bottling which
will be available from July, the Ardbeg
Vintage Y2K 23 Year Old which has been
produced from some of the first batches
of Ardbeg spirit distilled in the
new millennium and matured in a combination
of bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.
 Ardbeg today unveiled its first vintage
of the millennium: the exceedingly rare
Ardbeg Vintage Y2K. This 23 Year Old
Ardbeg whisky, renowned for its intense
sweetness and classic peatiness, marks
the genesis of a select series conceived
during a pivotal year for the
distillery. Amidst the global wave of
Noughties nostalgia, Ardbeg beckons
aficionados of smoky malt to journey
back in time and relive a momentous
epoch in its history.
While 2000 evokes memories of bootcut
jeans, flip phones, and the looming Y2K
bug for many, for Ardbeg, it signifies a
different narrative. Rescued from the
brink of extinction by The Glenmorangie
Company in 1997, the distillery
underwent meticulous restoration. As the
clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve,
heralding the dawn of a new millennium,
Ardbeg resumed full-scale production.
While other distilleries shuttered in
fear of computer glitches, Ardbeg's
devoted craftsmen laboured through the
night to ensure the spirit flowed
unabated.
Distilled from some of the first batches
of the millennium, the debut release of
the Ardbeg Vintage Y2K series stands
apart from its predecessors. Produced in
the historic still that served Ardbeg
faithfully for 51 years until its
retirement in 2001, this whisky
underwent a meticulous cask selection
process under new ownership, resting in
the finest bourbon and Oloroso sherry
casks available.
The outcome they tell me is a single
malt brimming with vibrant citrusy
nuances and profoundly sweet, smoky
flavours—a unique expression never to be
replicated. Aromas of lemon balsam
intertwine with hints of linseed oil and
heather honey, while on the palate, soot
and peppermint evoke memories of freshly
ground coffee and aniseed.
Simultaneously with the birth of this
exceptional whisky, another significant
chapter unfolded at Ardbeg. In February
2000, a small group of devoted
enthusiasts devised a plan to safeguard
the distillery's legacy, giving rise to
the Ardbeg Committee. Over two decades
later, this fiercely loyal community has
burgeoned into an Ardbeggian
institution, boasting members from over
130 countries, numbering over 180,000
strong.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg Master
Distiller, said: "Ardbeg Vintage Y2K is
a phenomenal souvenir of a pivotal year
at Ardbeg. Crafted at the dawn of a new
era in our historic still, this
ultra-rare whisky has been stowed
carefully at the Distillery ever since.
Herbal, citrusy and sweet on the nose,
before soot, peppermint and coffee
explode on the palate, this retro
collectors’ classic is pure Ardbeg
nostalgia."
Committee Chair and Distillery Visitor
Centre Manager Jackie Thomson said: "The
turn of the millennium was a milestone
for Ardbeg in so many ways – not least
the formation of our Committee, the
lifeblood of Ardbeg. With Y2K fashion
and culture now back with a vengeance,
we’re inviting Ardbeggians to turn back
time to a remarkable year and enjoy the
spirit of Ardbeg Vintage Y2K."
Ardbeg Y2K has been bottled at 46% ABV
and as you can imagine for an limited
edition Ardbeg of this age you will need
deep pockets if you want to taste it, it
has a RRP of £670 and will be available
to purchase in the UK and on Ardbeg.com
in the UK from July from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
In the meantime you can register your
interest from today, 7th May on
Ardbeg.com
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Ardbeg Y2K 23 Year Old Review
|
Bottled at 46% ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Herbal,
sweet and fragrant, with a subtle,
distant perfumed smokiness. A closer
inspection reveals a quirky, zesty note
like lemon balsam, along with a
suggestion of linseed oil and candied
walnuts. With a splash of water, the
fragrance intensifies, with a note of
heather honey, a touch of creosote and
the tiniest hint of tent canvas.
Taste: The
texture is fizzy and sherbet-like, with
a vibrant effervescence on the tongue.
The initial flavour is intensely sweet,
with a burst of aniseed, toffee,
digestive biscuits, peppermint, menthol,
tar and coffee grounds. Sooty and tarry
flavours then build.
Finish: The
long, lingering aftertaste reveals
antiseptic lozenges, bitter orange peel
and oak tannins.
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specialist Whisky shops who delivers to
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