Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24yr - 70cl
The Ardbeg Vintage Y2K, distilled around the turn of the millennium and bottled at 24 years old, captures a moment Islay fans treasure: Ardbeg back in full flow after the lean years, the spirit from this period now carrying serious maturity.
Twenty-four years on Islay does something specific to Ardbeg's peat. The raw tar mellows into something deep and savoury. The nose carries woodsmoke and creosote softened by tropical fruit, pineapple, mango, ripe peach, that unexpected sweetness older Ardbeg loves to show. Underneath, vanilla, lemon oil and a salty sea breeze.
The palate is rich and oily. Smoked vanilla, charred pineapple, espresso and a long ribbon of liquorice. The peat is present throughout but it's the fruit that surprises, that bright tropical lift cutting against the smoke. Add water and you'll find more salinity and a touch of menthol. The finish runs for minutes, ashy and sweet at once, ending on dark chocolate and brine.
A bottle that rewards patience. This is Ardbeg at its most complete, the smoke and the fruit in genuine conversation. If you've only met young Ardbeg, this will change how you think about the distillery.
How to Serve
Neat, slowly, in a tulip glass. Let it breathe for fifteen minutes. A drop or two of water releases the tropical fruit, but treat this one gently.
Where to Drink It
Black Rock, Shoreditch, for the deep Islay shelf.
Milroy's of Soho, where they'll know exactly what you're holding.
Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood, smoke and a fire to sit by.
Food Pairings
Dark chocolate with sea salt, or a ripe mango eaten with your hands. For something savoury, smoked eel.
