Ardbeg 1974 23 Year Old Cask #1063+65

Tasting Notes by Serge Valentin (Whiskyfun)

• Colour

  Pure gold.

• Nose

  Wow, it seems we have another beautiful variant here. Smokier and peatier than the OMC, probably rounder, and less mineral and grassy. More fruit as well, such as quinces, apricots, even bananas (unusual in Ardbeg, I think). The profile is closer to the ‘low-strength’ we had before. More balanced, more seductive, subtler. It develops mostly on paraffin, waxed paper and pink grapefruit, with whiffs of incense smoke and seawater. Superb as well, no need to say!.

• Mouth

  Now it’s much, much closer to the OMC, although a tad rounder and waxier. Bold, even grand, really invading… It’s a perfect blend of smoked herbs, crystallized fruits (quince) and resin-flavoured sweets (and alcohol, of course). Again it’s not as monstrously complex as, say a very old Brora or even Laphroaig or Lagavulin, but it’s got its very own kind of compactness – that I like a lot, no need to say. Very long finish, superbly bitter again (and perhaps just a tad too drying). Wow.

• Score

  92 points