The Ardbeg 17 Years Old is more than just a whisky; it’s a legend reborn. A dram that once whispered its farewell in the late 1990s, only to be resurrected like a phoenix from Islay’s smoky hearth, it now graces our glasses with a reimagined spirit–one tempered by time yet untamed in soul.
The history of the Ardbeg 17 is as layered as its flavor profile. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s during a turbulent era for the distillery, it marked a turning point–a beacon of hope in Ardbeg’s near-extinction. The distillery had been silent for much of the 1980s, its future uncertain, like a ship lost in the mist of the Atlantic. The 17-year-old expression emerged as a quiet savior, a whisky that showcased a gentler, more refined side of Ardbeg while still honoring its peaty roots. Yet, just as it was beginning to gain recognition, it disappeared, a victim of dwindling stocks and an uncertain market. Its absence only heightened its mystique, making its eventual return a moment of celebration for whisky lovers worldwide.
Pouring into the glass, the liquid glows with a golden warmth, reminiscent of the last embers of a seaside bonfire. The nose is an intricate waltz between past and present–tendrils of soft peat smoke curl around notes of vanilla cream, warm leather-bound books, and the citrusy zest of a sunset breeze. It is as if an old sea captain has returned from distant shores, his pockets lined with stories and the scent of brine still clinging to his coat. Each inhale is a page turned in a forgotten journal, each scent a whispered memory from Islay’s mist-laden past.
The first sip is a revelation, an echo of Ardbeg’s wilder days, now delivered with the grace of a seasoned storyteller. The peat, once an untamed tempest, now moves with a measured elegance–like a panther prowling through candlelit ruins. Honeyed barley mingles with salted caramel, while distant echoes of tobacco and white pepper provide an enigmatic contrast. There’s a whisper of orchard fruits–wind-blown apples from a distant shore, caught between the smoke and the sea, a fleeting mirage of sweetness before the tide pulls it back.
The finish lingers like an old song, one that fades into memory but is never truly gone. Smoked almonds, dark chocolate, and the ghost of bonfire embers intertwine in an elegant farewell, leaving you contemplating the past while savoring the present. It is a lingering embrace, a last note that hangs in the air like a star refusing to fade with the dawn.
Ardbeg 17’s revival is not merely a return – it is a masterstroke of time and craft, a love letter to those who longed for its embrace. This dram is the whisky equivalent of finding a lost manuscript from your favorite poet, only to discover it has matured into something even more profound. A collector’s dream, a storyteller’s muse, and a testament to the alchemy of patience and passion, it proves that some legends never die – they simply age to perfection.
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Words by AW.
Photo courtesy of Ardbeg.