The year 2000, or Y2K, was a milestone for the world as we approached a once in a number of lifetimes landmark occasion - it was one that some approached with now unfounded and laughed about fears, and of course one that many had met with eager anticipation and wonderment. It's a whole lot of things - and that went the same for Ardbeg.

The distillery, whilst seen as a Scotch duh these days, had only just gotten out of disuse, having been mostly shuttered through the 1980's, and had only gotten back up and running in just 1997. By 2000, whilst things were still on uncertain footing, the distillery was just getting back into the full swing of things and doing their utmost best - throwing the whole kitchen sink really - to make sure that it would not face a closure again. The year 2000 would also see the establishing of the Ardbeg Committee, which is today the world's largest whisky club for any particular distillery - and as a constant reminder to everyone, is free to join on Ardbeg's website, and puts you ahead to pick up limited Committee releases that typically come at a higher proof than what's available to the public. 

And even if you weren't into the whole Ardbeg lore and why this expression - the Ardbeg Vintage Y2K, which was made with some of the earliest spirits distilled in 2000 that's then matured in a combination of Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks - matters, it's worth paying attention to because it's not going to be like anything else that Ardbeg puts out from that vintage on. The whisky that's gone into the Vintage Y2K - and bear with me, I know the marketing on this is alittle gimmicky, and yet through personal experience I've concluded that Ardbeg is of a rare breed where sometimes the marketing shtick betrays what is otherwise a really damn good whisky - was distilled using a historic Ardbeg still that the distillery had been using for 51 years, and which was retired permanently in 2001. And thus this is actually whisky that's unique in that regard and actually won't be made again. That retired pot still now sits on the grounds of the distillery!

And so with all that said, let's give this Ardbeg Vintage Y2K a go! Also how often do you get to try a 23 Year Old Ardbeg that's aged in Sherry?

Let's go!

PS. I had spotted that this was available to be purchased as a dram at a fraction of the bottle price at Ardbeg's showcase at the Whisky Journey Singapore festival! Incredible great finds if you keep an eye out! 

Whisky Review: Ardbeg Vintage Y2K, 23 Year Old, 46% ABV

Tasting Notes

Colour: Gold

Aroma: It opens up with some gentle smokiness, lots of kombu seaweed, it's really honeyed and buttery, really big maltiness about it. There's a slight ashiness of BBQ smoke. It's very rich and also impressively cohesive. Also some nuttiness and mulled wine that resides at the back, along with concentrated stewed plum sweetness at that. With time, there's more on sweet grilled meats, and grilled peaches and plums. A herbal aspect also begins to emerge, of traditional Asian root herbs of ginseng. All throughout, there's lots of honey, really great richness, and with time more on sweet Sherry.

Taste: Wow! That richness and honey persists - it's incredibly honeyed. And also heaps of stewed plums and prunes, raisins, figs; it's as if they're all steeped in honey to form some sort of a cordial. It's medium-bodied and yet has this suppleness about it. More on grilled peaches and plums, grilled meats too. It feels fuller and richer, and again remarkably supple. 

Finish: More smoky here, there's now more of that classic herbaceous kombu seaweed and sea spray that comes through. The finish carries through with sweet grilled meats (Thai honey glazed meat skewers moo ping) and a side of stewed plums.

My Thoughts

Strip away all the reactance to the hype (and price aside), and quite honestly this is a really impressive dram from Ardbeg. What really blew me away was the supple richness of the body, it's texture is soft yet firm with such richness, and within that is an incredible well integrated and well expressived Sherry that has merged remarkably cohesively with the Ardbeg spirit itself. This is one where the textural qualities almost takes the lead here, with the flavours rich yet mellow. With time, more and more of these flavours emerge, with more on sweet grilled meats and grilled fruits, always rich and bold yet at the same time incredibly rounded and balanced.

The tasting experience feels like a whole trip, where it almost lengthens as you follow the river down the valley it feels like, admiring every bend and appreciating the ebb and flow. I really love how the Sherry is expressed so harmoniously as part of the whisky's overall identity, without making it centered on just squarely the Sherry itself - it doesn't overwhelm the spirit, and allows the spirit that already has so much richness and body to hold its own and express itself in an incredibly self-assured manner. Really, really tasty!

PS. I had spotted that this was available to be purchased as a dram at a fraction of the bottle price at Ardbeg's showcase at the Whisky Journey Singapore festival! Incredible great finds if you keep an eye out! 

Kanpai!

@111hotpot