Ardbeg 25 Years Old The Duchess Shieldmaiden Malin Cask:649 49,8% 1991

Distillerie	Ardbeg
Embouteilleur	The Duchess
Serie	SHIELDMAIDEN SERIES
Mise en bouteille pour	The Duchess
Date de distillation	1991
Date de mise en bouteille	08.2016
Pays	Écosse
Région	Islay
Age	25
Cask Type	Bourbon Cask
Numéro de fût	649
Alcohol percentage	49.8
Volume
État	dans son emballage d'origine
Étiquette	Parfait
Stock	0

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Serge Valentin (90)

A recent bottling by a wee Dutch company, and we all know that the Dutch know their Ardbeg. And their Shieldmaidens, apparently. What’s exactly a Shieldmaiden, by the way?

Colour: gold.

Nose: much, much rounder, and softer than the Chieftain’s, and that’s the bigger oak. But it’s also got this superb sourness that could be found in many an Ardbeg, something like old apple juice infused with hessian and just, yeah, coal tar. So it seems to be fatter, and even a little more manure-y. More from the countryside, if you prefer.

Mouth: big and strong, very salty, and very ‘green’, in a good way. I’m finding capers, green olives, green liquorice, then a little lemon-flavoured sour cream and this dirtiness that works so well. In fact, it’s a little unlikely and yogurty, but that works extremely well. A great flaw, as they say (who, who says that?) And more capers, many more briny capers…

Finish: very long, green, sharp, acidic, smoky, and very briny. The nose was a touch soft, this is sharp as a razorblade.

Comments: it’s a very coastal Ardbeg, and not totally a peat monster. Some gentleness to be found beyond the very briny flavours.

Gal Granov (91)

Nose: lovely farmy notes up front , with earthy peat , ash and hessian , there’s also a sweeter vanilla custard and maybe a hint of banana bread as well .creamy and medicinal at the same time which is great, and the peat is just crisp yet gentle, as you can expect older Ardbeg to be. A bit of citrus mostly lemon peel, white pepper and a salty touch too. We’re off to a lovely start with this one…

Palate: quite powerful with a lovely deep smoky touch, oily and sweet at times yet salty. Smoked Kippers,nuts, tarry rope, and more of the medicinal touches , grapefruit pith,and a nice peppery edge that does go well with the creamy notes. Nice wood and earthy notes too towards the end.

Finish: earthy and smoky, long with the kippers and tar, and the vanilla creaminess mixing nicely. Very elegant.

Well well, this is quite an excellent whisky, really everything I had hoped from an older Ardbeg, very elegant, and not too punchy, but still packs enough peaty prowess. Highly recommended.

Whisky Notes (90)

Remember Ardbeg was closed from March 1981 until 1989, and was only operating for two months every year between 1989 and the next closure in July 1996. Back then Iain Henderson of Laphroaig was the Caretaker Manager – both distilleries were part of the Allied Distillers group. Very little stock from this era remains – as a first bottling this is quite impressive.

Nose:
Nice earthy peat, quite mellow and elegant, with toffee undertones and a slight farmy edge. Big hints of sackcloth. A little banana custard underneath. Hints of tarry ropes. Some Pu-Erh. Kelp. After a while a lemon and salt combo comes out, as well as light medicinal notes.

Mouth:
Compact start but growing wider by the second. Nice velvelty / almondy texture. Smoked fish, walnuts, medicinal notes, sweet grapefruits and a big earthiness. Quite a big briney side too, but always with a sweet, fruity undertone.

Finish:
Long, oily, refined and earthy. A feeling of warm ashes.
This is rather excellent Ardbeg. Warm, gentle peat with perfectly dosed sweetness, brine and medicinal notes. More balanced than powerful.

BOW (90)