The Distillers’ Art Small Batch Bottlers Ardbeg 20 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Here's something that you don't see often: Well-aged indie Ardbeg from a single cask at natural strength. Given the way Ardbeg has been selling of late, this won't last long... Laid down in ex Bourbon oak around the time Glenmorangie PLC released the first of the new Ardbeg tens, it promises an explosion of peat and tobacco on the nose with a typically complex palate of Islay goodness. But let's face it, very little of this is going to be opened. The importer did cave in to cracking a bottle, however. As you'd expect with older Islays, some of the assertiveness associated with the Ardbeg style has been tempered by age. Here are his notes: "...gentle sweet fruitiness, grainy oak, hint of tarry smoke, integrated. Fab nose. Malt on entry, falls of a tad then the smoke, dry and vegetal, arrives by the bucket load. Creamy oak at finish, but smoke just hangs around. Supple, well combined. What a treat!”

Obviously collectable with just 168 bottles coming to market. This is a new bottler for us and represents the second label in the 'The Distillers' Art' range, falling under their Small Batch series. 53% Alc./Vol. Limited to one bottle per customer.