Ardbeg Twenty One (bottled 2016), 46%

Review #658

This is a 21 year old release from Ardbeg, matured in ex-Bourbon casks (200 l). Only 8268 bottles were made. Vanilla peat with a touch of heather in the smell. Honey and lemons. It is very soft! A touch of rubber in the end.

Again, some lemons in the taste mixed with some of those earthy Ardbeg notes. Ashy peat and white fruits. The finish gets a bit more sweet, and some tropical fruits comes forward alongside the vanilla. The earthy-ashy peat stays til the bitter end.

I am surprised that it isn’t more complex, and that the oak hadn’t had a bigger impact on the whisky. Younger official expressions packs more flavour and complexity. For old Ardbeg, I would go for some independent bottlings instead. I will give this 86/100 (21/22/22/21).