Ardbeg Distillery has today (3rd September) announced the revival of one of its fan-favorite whiskies: the 17 Year Old. Members of the Ardbeg Committee, now over 120,000 strong, will have exclusive access to the Ardbeg 17 Year Old, which will retail for £160 (~$210).
The creation of the new Ardbeg 17 Year Old warranted a return to old production methods in order to faithfully recreate this Ardbeg modern classic.
The Original Ardbeg 17 Year Old
The Ardbeg 17 Year Old was originally released in 1997, following the distillery’s purchase and subsequent revamp by Glenmorangie plc. It soon became a staple in Ardbeg’s range, and was noted for its elegant Islay smoke. The whisky has been long lamented since its discontinuation in 2004.
The Revival
Reviving the Ardbeg 17 Year Old required the distillery’s Whisky Creation Team to retrace old steps, and find a way to bring back the unmistakable profile of the whisky that left the core range 20 years ago.
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As a result, the team had to break some rules.
The New Ardbeg 17 Year Old
The new Ardbeg 17 Year Old breaks away from the modern rules at Ardbeg, which state that a whisky should be bottled at over 46% ABV and non-chill-filtered.
Whisky creators at the distillery on Islay, after vigorous experimentation, noted that the Ardbeg 17 Year Old was beloved for exactly what it was and that the production of the new expression should reflect that.
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And so, the whisky comprises a blend and peated and unpeated single malt scotch whisky, chill-filtered, and bottled at 40% ABV. These production methods have allowed Ardbeg to recreate a cult classic, ready for Committee members to enjoy.
“When we meet die-hard Ardbeg Committee members, the conversation often turns to Ardbeg 17 Years Old. After pondering for some time how we could bring this favourite back to life, we landed on a delicious recipe that honours the character of the original 17 Years Old both in aroma, flavour and texture,” says Ardbeg’s Master Blender, Gillian Macdonald.
“Ardbeg fans can expect to find classic aromas of pine resin and sea spray, as well as a mineral note layered with malted barley – all underpinned by delicate smoke. In tribute to the Ardbeg folk past and present who made this whisky an icon, we’re very excited to bring an Islay legend back to life, allowing a new generation of whisky lovers to experience an iconic Ardbeg that they’ve heard so much about.”
Tasting Notes
“Aroma: Fresh, clean and salving, with hints of pine resin, aniseed, sea spray and lavender soap, the nose is very gentle, very restrained, and rather elegant for an Ardbeg. With water, there is a distinctive, flinty minerality, along with subtle hints of sweet peat smoke, malted barley, and a touch of toasting bread.
“Taste: A beautiful, creamy texture is followed by a lovely combination of flavours, with aniseed toffee, café latte, fennel and gentle antiseptic soap. The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner.
“Finish: Lingering, with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.”
Buy The Ardbeg 17 Year Old
Members of the Ardbeg Committee can purchase the whisky online, at the Distillery Visitor Center on Islay, and in Ardbeg Embassies starting from September 24th, 2024.
If you haven’t yet joined the Committee, it is not too late! Join here for exclusive access to the new Ardbeg 17 Year Old.
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