First released over 25 years ago in 1997, 17 Years Old was one of the first bottles to leave the Distillery after reopening. Unusually delicate, yet unmistakably Ardbeg, this malt found a place in the hearts of the Committee, and set an extraordinary standard for the future of our whisky. Retired in 2004, Ardbeggians thought that was the last they’d see of 17. But, while times have been moving quietly on, its return has been years in the making.
A quarter of a century since he first created this magnificent recipe, Dr Bill Lumsden – Master Distiller - has meticulously crafted this release to mirror the original, retracing the flavour profile note by note, and choosing to bottle at 40% strength, just as it was back then. Distinctly balmy and medicinal, an enticing minerality bursts into sweet smoke and malted barley. Its peaty presence is undeniable, with hints of tar and oak. Bottled in honour of the folk who were there at the start, this was always a whisky destined to return in the end.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Fresh and clean, with hints of pine resin, aniseed, sea spray and lavender soap- 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, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.
Finish: The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.
