The year 2000 was pivotal for Ardbeg, marking the renovation of the distillery and the creation of rare stock by Dr. Bill Lumsden and his team. As a limited series blending modern techniques with old stills, the Vintage Y2K stands out as a smoky anomaly with an unparalleled story.
Tasting Note by Ardbeg:Nose: Herbal, sweet and fragrant, with a subtle, distant perfumed smokiness. Next a quirky, zesty note like lemon balsam emerges, along with a suggestion of linseed oil and candied walnuts. A splash of water and the fragrance intensifies, emitting heather honey, a touch of creosote and the tiniest trace of tent canvas.Palate: The texture is fizzy and effervescing (sherbety), with a real, vibrant effervescence on the tongue. At first the flavour is intensely sweet, then shifts as aniseed, toffee, digestive biscuits, peppermint, menthol, tar and coffee grits burst through.Finish: The sooty/tarry flavours keep building, until they finally dissolve into a long, lingering aftertaste of antiseptic lozenges, bitter oranges and oak tannins.
Aged in port wine and ex-bourbon casks, The Spectacular reveals an intriguing blend of fragrant lavender, incense, and rich almond nuttiness. Perfectly summed up as a 'spectacle' of peculiar, but addictive notes and flavours.
Tasting Note by Ardbeg:Nose: Curiously perfumed and aromatic, with lovely, fragrant top notes like lavender, vetiver and incense candles. Underneath this are some deeper notes, a touch of leather, some almond nuttiness, and a touch of wax. A splash of water opens up the bouquet, revealing touches of woodsmoke, damp peat moss, a hint of menthol and more antique leather.Palate: The mouthfeel is salty, but viscous at the same time, and leads in to a burst of huge, salty, savoury, smoky flavours- eucalyptus oil, salted caramel toffee, smoked pecan nuts, fragrant woodsmoke, creosote and tar. There is also a background sweetness, like a smoky pear crumble and some fudge.Finish: Finally on the long lingering aftertaste, more leather, salted caramel and a cooling mentholic sensation.
The 2024 edition of Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength remains a firm favourite, boasting a composition of 70% whisky aged in bourbon barrels and 30% in sherry casks. This batch reveals a robust and untamed character, typical of Springbank. It presents a rich tapestry of flavours, including sherried prunes, almonds, and brown sugar, accented by lighter notes of vanilla and apples, all woven together with the distillery's characteristic industrial smokiness. This expression is renowned for its oily, rich, and fruity profile, capturing the essence of the celebrated Campbeltown distillery with a subtle hint of smoke.Tasting Notes by Springbank:Nose: This year's 12 year old cask strength kicks off with notes of marzipan, smoked meats and a smokiness akin to burnt matches.Palate: The palate introduces soft peat smoke and notes of morello cherries and aniseed, accompanied by a creamy mouthfeel reminiscent of custard creams.Finish: The coastal influence emerges in the finish in notes of brine, oil and salted caramel, along with the endurance of the peat smoke.
