The Islay Odyssey 2015 sequel tastings Ardbeg

February 18, 2015

The Islay Odyssey 2015
Bringing rare whiskies back to their birthplace to open them.

Sequel tasting,
Ardbeg 1965 vs. 1966

Only two Ardbegs today, but not just any Ardbegs. One of them is pretty well known, while the other one is extremely rare. It’s one of the rarest, in fact, possibly the rarest of them all. Because mind you, the distinguished Japanese people in Mizuhashi (that’s not too far from Nagano, it seems) were probably drinking their Ardbegs. We’ll first try the lighter one if you don’t mind.

Ardbeg 1966/1987 (46%, Moon Import, The Birds, hogshead, cask #2443, 264 bottles)

Olivier’s Ardbeg 1966/1987 (46%, Moon Import, The Birds, hogshead, cask #2443, 264 bottles)

We’re revisiting this glorious baby that we had last tasted not so long ago, in 2011. Colour: full gold. Nose: starts with a feeling of old yellow chartreuse, and would rather go on with some artisan apple juice (no b****y concentrate), notes of dill and fennel, then earthy teas, cigars, cough syrup and crème de menthe. It’s no big whisky on the nose, but its no shy baby either. Some kind of antique cough syrup, or embrocations. Or 19th century camphorated alcohol. Mouth: exactly the same, plus bitter oranges, olives and much smoked kippers. I need not say more. Finish: long, very ashy. Salted fish, lemon marmalade, a little chlorophyll (gums). The aftertaste is a notch astringent, perhaps. Comments: we’ve always had this glorious old Ardbeg at 93 points, but now that would rather be 93+. But we don’t do halves or quarters, do we? SGP:467 - 93 points.

Ardbeg 23 yo 1965/1988 (55%, Cadenhead for Mizuhashi total liquor supply, Japan, sherry cask)

Patrick’s Ardbeg 23 yo 1965/1988 (55%, Cadenhead for Mizuhashi total liquor supply, Japan, sherry cask)

Wow, and I mean wow! Colour: pale white wine. Nose: ooooh… It’s so great to be able to try middle-aged mid-sixties unsherried cask strength Ardbeg! It’s actually a rather delicate spirit, and most of what you get is one thousand variations on the theme of smoke and ash. Was this distilled by JS Bach? And then, some fresh earth, fresh almonds, apple peelings, linseed oil (big) and lamp oil. Mechanics rather than coastal things.

With water (huge viscimetric whorls by the way, we’ve managed to awaken the serpent!): perfection. Green olives, great mezcal, sour apples, wet wool, hay, bandages, cigar ashes. Mouth (neat): oh my oh my oh my oh my oh my (that’ll do, S.) This is so focussed, so simple, and yet so brilliant! Almond milk, smoked seawater, plasticine, salted fish, a touch of lemon, and basta cosi. You just don’t need more when everything’s so perfectly balanced and characterful. With water: this has become m.a.s.s.i.v.e. Or Wagnerian. Hits you right between your eyes. And it remained so simple, almost minimal (S., do Wagner and the word minimal really fit together?) Not unlike those fabulous buffalos or horses that the Neanderthals used to draw on the walls of their caves. Definitely a ‘ligne claire – or clear line’ whisky. I think it’s time to call the anti-maltoporn brigade. Finish: can whisky be both fat and clean? Discuss. The aftertaste is a little dirtier, though. Greatly dirty (ashes). Comments: I may have forgotten to tell you that the peatiness was huge. An entrancing simplicity, and one of my favourite whiskies ever. Like, top ten for sure. Merci Patrick, tu nous en auras sorti des merveilles! SGP:358 - 97 points.

Check the index of all Ardbeg I've tasted so far