Ardbeg 10 yr drop in ABV

[Rikus]

Hi all,

Newbie to the forum, but figured I will call in the help from the experts.

Earlier this year (12 January to be exact) I bought a bottle of Ardbeg 10 year. I've poured from the bottle a couple of times, but the bottle was at least 2/3 full. Last night, I poured myself a dram, and immediately realized something is wrong: the whisky was cloudy. Upon tasting, the whisky tasted watery and weak. Intrigued, I decided to measure the ABV (luckily I have a hydrometer) and there is was: 25% instead of the 46% it should be.

I've read stories online of non-chill filtered whiskies becoming cloudy on its own due to high ambient humidity, but this seems a bit excessive. I live close to the coast and we had a lot of rain the last couple of weeks, so the humidity is quite high. The whisky was also on a shelf the last couple of weeks that gets some late sun.

Have any of you ever experienced something similar? I am really upset. My initial impression was that someone drank some of my whisky and topped it up with water, hoping I wouldn't notice. But, before jumping to conclusions, I need to know if any of you ever had something similar happen to a whisky in your collection.

Thanks in advance.

[Brummie]

If the ABV was 46% when you first opened it in January then it would take a lot of years for it to depreciate to 25% and even then that would only happen that quickly in a porous oak cask not in a bottle which I assume you left with the cork securing fitted. Where did you buy the whisky, from a reputable source and can you recall if the seal looked ok and was fully intact?

Other than you being sold a watered down bottle back in January and you not noticing I would say someone has taken a liking to your bottle of Ardbeg and topped it up with water to hide the fact that they have been enjoying it themselves.

[DillyT]

[Whisky Dog]

Unless you bought a dodgy bottle it definitely sounds like someone has been helping themselves and topping the bottle up with water. Have you a curious teenager in the house with good taste in whisky.

[havaska]

Sounds to me like it’s been topped up with water.

[lincoln imp]

To drop to 25% abv would take a lot of water and this all sounds very dodgy, I cannot imagine that happening naturally but leaving a bottle in sunlight can cause major issues also.
Just as a side issue do not leave bottles in sunlight, the warming of the liquid plus uv does damage whisky but at least the glass is green which helps to shield much better than clear glass.
_________________
Pour me a glass please.

[Kenny M]

LOL, when I read the title of this topic

[Rikus]

Thanks for all the replies. You just confirmed my suspicion. I had some students house sit for me while on holiday, and they might've taken a liking in my Ardbeg. The bottle is now placed in a safe place, but the damage is done.

@lincoln imp, I am normally very cautious of placing any liquor in direct sun, but I didn't realize this specific spot gets some sunlight late during the day.

Sorry @Kenny M, I just realized that the post title could be interpreted as the ABV being cut form the distillery. Luckily this is not the case.

Thanks all for your input!