Ardbeg 1976

Overall rating
95.19/100
votes
99
Whiskybase ID
WB1292
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Vintage
24.11.1976
Bottled
26.03.2002
Calculated age
25 years old
Casktype
Sherry butt
Casknumber
2395
Number of bottles
468
Strength
54.5 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Market
Japan Japan
Added on
13 jan 2008 2:48 pm
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask StrengthSingle Cask Whisky
Ardbeg 1976
Photo by Bachess
Ardbeg 1976
Ardbeg 1976
Photo by dram-drinker
Ardbeg 1976
Photo by dram-drinker

Average value

€ 9423.83

Found 1 online shops. Lowest price:

£ 8000.00
United Kingdom The Whisky Exchange £ 8000.00
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99 × member ratings

69 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Ardbeg 1976

21 users have left 28 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 95.19 points.

  1. lincolnimp scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    A good example of an old sherried Ardbeg, certainly nice stuff but I preferred the 1972 cask 2782 to this one
    • Nose
      92 92
      Decent nose, rich sherry that is masking the peat, stewed dark fruits, plus a touch of Christmas spice
      Smells really rich like some of the best and darkest Christmas cakes.
    • Taste
      93 93
      Creamy & peaty, dark rich plums, black currants, something slightly meaty, with some ginger and a pepper note.
      A few drops of water makes it a little smoother and releases more dark fruit and more peat/pepper
      Good balance on show here
    • Finish
      92 92
      Quite long and sweet

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  3. Marx scored this whisky 95 points Expert Senior

    The great Ardbeg

  4. WiltChamberlain scored this whisky 95 points Connoisseur

    Best Ardbeg I ever had - so powerful yet so complex - the profile is way different than from today's bottles - this is worth an investment.
    • Nose
      95 95
    • Taste
      95 95
    • Finish
      96 96

  5. -sAxo- scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      93 93
    • Finish
      92 92

  6. MaltHaus scored this whisky 92 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  7. peatjens scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    Thanks Santa for the sample :)
    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  8. peatjens scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    Thanks Santa for the sample :)
    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  9. Archer scored this whisky 96 points Connoisseur

    A whisky that you only get very, very few times in a glass. Absolutely fantastic.
    • Nose
      97 97
      Oh, this is going to be big ...
      An incredibly multi-layered sherry nose with a truly beguiling scent of old leather, flavored pipe tobacco, dusty oak shelves, raisin bread, dried figs.
      The cellar door opens and out comes a musty, musty and at the same time homely note. The cellar must have a buried connection to the sea, because maritime, salty aromas are now emerging - as is a very fine note of peat smoke that had previously been hidden behind the old wood. Chocolate with a high cocoa content, nutmeg, some lovage, anise, cloves, dried lavender.
    • Taste
      96 96
      Strong, full and with much more peat smoke than I noticed in my nose. It fully confirms the impression from the nose, because it delivers such an incredibly impressive play of aromas that it is a real pleasure. Dark chocolate with licorice applications, dried lavender, thyme, rosemary and fresh oregano, together with dried apricots and grilled orange slices, result in an exotic-looking, yet extremely tasty mixture.
    • Finish
      96 96
      You can taste it for a long time. The aromatic, musty cellar impression gives its goodbye, the sherry barrel aromas really turn up again, accompanied by the aforementioned spices. A finish that is rarely seen.

  10. Noface83 scored this whisky 96 points Specialist

    Fantastic and damn close to absolute perfection.
    Old-school sherry character with dark sweetness, old plum, nut notes and orange zest, old whisky flavor, maritime without end - fresh oysters with a dash of lemon that you eat in an old earthy cellar, liquorice, warm aromatic smoke, beautiful old ones Oak, cocoa powder.
    Then in the mouth heavy smoke, orange again, fiery warm, chocolate, nutty dry sherry, again maritime and subtle liquorice. The old oak and cocoa powder again resonate somewhat.
    The finish is infinitely long. It starts with herbs dried over a campfire, aromatic smoke, dark chocolate and salty liquorice. In the end, there is a super pleasant old oak with a burnt touch and a pinch of salt and a dash of lemon on old tobacco leaves.
    • Nose
      97 97
    • Taste
      96 96
    • Finish
      96 96

  11. lincolnimp scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    1970`s aged peat, Islay v Islands v Campbeltown v Highlands H2H
    This was a very enjoyable H2H of some of the best peated whisky there is, the initial plan was to do a top 10 of aged 1970`s vintage heavily peated whisky but it ended up being 11 as this was the only opportunity to test the 1975 Samaroli Geerie against the 1967 Douglas Laing Geerie.
    These 2 whiskies from this old Highland distillery I know from previous tastings are pretty incredible to be honest.

    RESULT AND SCORES 1st-11th

    Glen Garioch 1967 36 year 55.5% Douglas Laing Platinum (Bonus dram)
    96/97/95

    Glen Garioch 1975 57% CoillteanSamaroli Flowers
    96/96/96

    Port Ellen 12 year 62.7% James Macarthur Fine Malt Selection
    94/95/95

    Brora 30 year 2003 Annual Release 55.7% OB
    94/95/95

    Longrow 1973 16 year 48% Samaroli 9
    91/94/94

    Ledaig 1972 22 year 54% Cadenhead Authentic Collection
    92/94/93

    Ledaig 1972 32 year cask 8721 48.9% Alambic Classique
    92/93/93

    Talisker 25 year 2004 57.8% OB
    92/93/93

    Ardbeg 1976 25 year cask 2395 54.5% OB
    93/92/92

    Ardmore 18 year 1994 51.4% James Macarthur
    92/92/92

    Port Ellen 1978 25 year 4th Annual Release 56.2% OB

  12. lincolnimp scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    Re taste for a peat H2H.

    The nose, smells like a coastal peat, rich sherry, rich fruit cake, ginger, stewed blackcurrant and damson in the background then spent matches and smoke.
    A few drops of water release wisps of cigar smoke
    The palate has more bitterness than i remember, it is almost meaty like some old sherried Mortlachs have.
    it gets a little sweeter as you go on, with some pepper and spice and some unripe plum is mixed with a little ginger and water brings out faint orange.
    Good balance here, peat,sherry & spice in harmony with a long finish that fizzes on your tongue
    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  13. lincolnimp scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    Ardbeg H2H

    I had a 2014 ten year just to get my palate used to the taste, I am no Ardbeg fan and still think most Ardbeg are scored too high generally but I will admit there was some quality in the old stuff on show in this tasting. On personal preference, even with these highly rated drams I found it all just a little bit dull at the end and while I scored the 1972 OB 93-94points and a clear winner with the Ardbeggeddon on 92 (would have been higher but for a lack lustre nose which dragged it's score down), the supposed best Ardbeg of all the 1976 was 3rd also on 92 but the Ardbeggeddon had a better taste & finish.

    I do these tastings for a reason, apart from my personal enjoyment it sometimes debunks for me the myths of how good some whisky is supposed to be, this is one of those times. The whisky here was good, I am not saying it isn`t but Ardbeg has always been and always will be not as good as everyone else thinks it is in my humble opinion, it does not reach the heights of say 1970's young, peated Glen Garioch or the best Brora, not even close apart from the 72 OB but that is just one man's humble opinion.
    As a side issue the 10 year from 2014 could hold it's head up and the Lord of the Isles for the money is rubbish and dull as dishwater, I think I am being generous awarded it 85p.

    Tasting order (lowest abv first)

    1-Ardbeg 10 year 46% 2014 OB WB ID 67284
    2-Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25 year 2001 46% OB WB ID 14204
    3-Ardbeggeddon 1972 Douglas Laing OMC 29 year 48.4% WB ID 5102
    4-Ardbeg 1972 30 year cask 2782 49.9% OB WB ID 1295
    5-Ardbeg 1973 27 year 50% Douglas Laing OMC 240 bottles WB ID 5581
    6- Ardbeg 1974 23 year cask 1045 50.9% Signatory dumpy WB ID 7382
    7- Ardbeg 1976 25 year cask 2395 54.9% OB WB ID 1292

    Result

    1st-Ardbeg 1972 30 year cask 2782
    2nd- Ardbeggeddon 1972 Douglas Laing OMC 29 year 48.4%
    3rd- Ardbeg 1976 25 year cask 2395 54.9% OB
    4th- Ardbeg 1973 27 year 50% Douglas Laing OMC
    5th- Ardbeg 1974 23 year cask 1045 50.9% Signatory dumpy
    6th- Ardbeg 10 year 46% 2014 OB
    7th- Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25 year 2001 46%

  14. prz22 scored this whisky 99 points Expert Senior

    Not sure what words to choose.
    Absolutely one of these malt world highlights that i always anticipate to experience.
    Absolutely perfect, balanced, sophisticated, intense and suprising whisky.
    Top notch sherrybomb, old PE and classic maritime Pultney in one.
    My mind is blown away!
    • Nose
      Wow!
      Salty, cherry oysters in chocolate gasoline swimming in the citrus-woody sea full of trees, flowers, spices, teas and wild Animals..
      Intense, complex, evolving, beautiful!!
      Perfect balance: sweet peaty, woody fruity, salty malty..superb!
    • Taste
      Even though its quite shockingly short on palate it explodes with everything at once.
      Punchy explosion of the flavours, it is all there: peat, sherry, fruits, wood, sea, some soil, lemon, tanins, amazing punch!
    • Finish
      Extraordinary balance, stays really long (finish stars early after short but anazing tongue arrival), changes and evolves with coffee, chocolate, oranges, petrol, wood, fruits of the sea, more salt, smoke, spices, leaving You speechless!

  15. kimyikshu69 scored this whisky 98 points Expert Senior

    Tobacco, sherried bomb. Very waxy and some fruit jam. Very classic Ardbeg peat on palate, a combination of sherried, tobacco, smoke, peat and waxy taste surrounding my mouth. Definitely my top 5 whisky in lifetime.

  16. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 93 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/old-rare-an-ardbeg-trio/

    TWE says: ‘,… this cask-strength dram is from the 1976 batch of sherry casks that took Ardbeg’s reputation into the stratosphere’. I wonder how much this bottle fetched in 2002?  For the Japanese market, this is another offering I’ve held onto for years now, compliments of ASWhisky.

    N: You know it’s incredibly dense, just by the way it falls into the glass. Leathery at first and very intense, it takes a while for the sherried complexities to open out. In fact, I’m not convinced it’s fully opened out after 45 minutes in an open glass, though every time I go to it, I pick out more and more. Indeed ASWhisky says ‘For this Ardbeg you need rest and time he unfolds his treasures only after a good while in the glass drunk too early, he shows something grumpy and old in the mouth’. It goes from bone dry & leathery to classic sherry to salty brine over the course of time, with a profile that is both old skool and contemporary, such is the freshness, the intensity, the vivid vibrancy. Then again, there are fusty overtones that defy this to have been distilled later than 1981 when Ardbeg was mothballed for eight years. It’s worth noting that the distillery closed again in 1996 before Glenmorangie bought the distillery and remaining stock a year later for £7 million. Not accounting for inflation, that’s currently around 9 bottles of 52yo Macallan [MoM]. Now more than an hour later this remains formidable yet it’s a firm but generous nose that gives without shedding. I reckon you could nose this all night, and the same glass would still hold up in the morning. Not sure mine will last that long.

    T: Whilst I’d anticipated this would be sweeter and squidgier, the arrival is surprisingly bitter and peated. It definitely needs some water, otherwise, it’s just salty oloroso followed by lots of peat. Water marries the two camps together, where the magic then happens. Aside from all the descriptors that one’s palate may glean or one’s brain conjure, it’s the mouthfeel that defines this one’s appeal. It’s big on everything, but consolidated with water – unlike some Karuizawa’s perhaps that can stay ever-intense and ‘showy’ – this is perfectly congenial. ASWhisky says: ‘You still feel the memories in your mouth hot and spicy but also spicy and soft’. Following on neatly perhaps is a quote I heard today from no other than Gordon Ramsey who says “presentation lasts 30 seconds, it’s the flavour that holds the memory” [Kitchen Nightmares: Series 3 Episode 3: 26 mins].

    F: After the oiliest gooey-ist vegetal-sweet~ashy chocolate on earth [with hints of rum, clairins and cachaca], we’ve succulent yet dry ashy > oak briny tannins, the dry-vegetal ashy oiliness remaining buoyant.

    C: I can easily see, if you rushed this, that it could be just ‘good’. Give it all the time and help it wants and it shall reward. Though not particularly subtle nor perhaps the emotional jerker I wanted, it is a sherried single cask of excellence from a great vintage year for Ardbeg.

  17. Iron Lung scored this whisky 95 points Expert Senior

    An exceptional whisky.
    I got a sample for my birthday.

    A clear 95 points

  18. foxboro scored this whisky 98 points Expert Senior

    Once in a lifetime ... unbelievable

  19. Baanaanaabob scored this whisky 95 points Connoisseur

    2395 is certainly one of the best of the 2390s casks so powerful

  20. Lorion scored this whisky 93 points Connoisseur

    Unquestionably a top-class whisky. Multi-layered and still extremely good. He strongly reminds me of the Special Vatting by Michel Couvreur. A good deal more complex (than the batches I know) and less sherrylastig. But similar in the great combination of sherry, oak and smoke. Absolutely great. Unfortunately, there are slight tart hints, whereas I am allergic. Therefore, there are - I hardly dare to write this word - "only" 93 points.
    • Nose
      First there is earthy smoke. Encrusted peat that begins to glow slowly. Then comes a surge of sweetness. Full and intense. Slightly chilling, the smoke stays there, it has something of mint. The chocolaty side of the Sherry comes through. This is not a modern oak and espresso owl. This is Old School, soft and elegant. Grapes and fresh plums. Raisins and this great sweet-sweetie. With some time, the smoke goes back further. As a sweet-maritime seaweed and herbal mixture, it stays there. Slightly sherry notes are now added. Tree bark. Tart wood flashes briefly (to my horror), luckily it evaporates and makes burned caramel place. Popcorn - sweet and salty. Both. Grapefruit also answers. The wine character is getting stronger. Gradually, smoke, sherry and oak come together to form a harmonious unit.
      Water : The unit returns to different components. The smoke is losing. The sweetie hesitates. The fruit takes a step forward, but the oak rushes off. Again slightly acidic wood flashes, again only briefly, and then comes mountain pine. Resin. It settles down again with recurring chocolate in the "grandiose" area.
    • Taste
      Full sweetie. The mouth is full. Smoke is added immediately, more clearly than in the nose. Tree bark in honey. Smoked orange. Sweet chocolate with pepper and salt. Nutty wine. Licorice. With the swallowing comes seaweed and Isla moss lollipop. Salty, maritime and sweet and bitter to taste. The maritime character in the mouth remains sticky sweet.
      Water : Liquid chocolate. The smoke needs something and does not prevail, only after longer moments he crawls through the pharynx. Rum grape nut chocolate everywhere in the mouth with bark and some sweet moss - crazy. Water does quite well, the whisky does not lose its intensity, it even wins.
    • Finish
      Long. Discreetly smoky. Very easily, a bitterness spreads. Milk coffee, a touch of dark chocolate with sea salt.

  21. hs305 scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    [March, 2005]  I had this dram during a MaRa rarities tasting at Limburg.

    In my old rating system (ten scales that translate into WB points: 50 - 66 - 75 - 80 - 82,5 - 85 - 87,5 - 90 - 92,5 - 95) I scored it 90.  My notes state a rather shy nose and a bold taste.  The finish is short but intense.

  22. Allandale scored this whisky 95 points Connoisseur

    The body is slight bigger and smoother.
    • Nose
      More oily. Orange essence. Black chocolate. Coffee.
    • Taste
      Expressive.Delicious. Lightly syrupy. Sweetish.Fruitier. More obvious orange. Reminiscent of orange-liqueur chocolates.
    • Finish
      Smoky,fragrant dryness. Some late,disappointing  woodiness.

  23. dram-drinker scored this whisky 99 points Photo Moderator

    • Nose
      100 100
    • Taste
      99 99
    • Finish
      98 98

  24. dram-drinker scored this whisky 99 points Photo Moderator

    Very well balanced and just perfect!
    • Nose
      Rich, intensive, citrus fruits, lemons, blood oranges, peat, smoke, bonfire, maritime breeze
    • Taste
      Punchy and powerful, oily, liquorice, very fruity, citrus fruits, smooth oak wood, little leathery, subtle sweetness, salty seaweed
    • Finish
      Long and burning, still smelling the sea

  25. dram-drinker scored this whisky 99 points Photo Moderator

    Full bodied and intensive sweet in the nose. Fantastic balance of peat and sweetness with a very fruity and maritime expression. Very Salty and even a bit leathery. Certainly one of the best old Ardbegs. Excellent 99 points!

  26. ASWhisky scored this whisky 95 points Connoisseur

    For this Ardbeg you need rest and time
    he unfolds his treasures only after a good while in the glass
    drunk too early, he shows something grumpy and old in the mouth
    yes! I'm in heaven
    • Nose
      the smell in the standing glass after pouring:

      ripe lemons and oranges in a damp sherry barrel
      an old cellar and the salty sea air
      liquorice
      dried malt
      Caro coffee with medicine

      panned and ventilated:

      the humid sea air has seized over the many years on the basement walls
      the musty walls exhale the salt of the sea
      remind you of sun, of oranges and again of salty and maritime
      You think back to warm French summer evenings
      oysters and sultriness and the smell of pleasure
      You feel the taste of pastis
    • Taste
      You still feel the memories in your mouth
      hot and spicy but also spicy and soft
      they stick to your palate and your throat
      dry sherry
      intense old barrel flavors
      like the melting of sweet chocolates chocolate over bitter chocolate
      a slight oysters note
      Sun-ripe oranges and lemons
      caramel
      salt
    • Finish
      very long and wet
      all memories flow together in your mouth to a single beautiful feeling
      soft, sweet, distinctive and seductive

  27. u485tfu scored this whisky 98 points Expert Junior

    Smell: initially soft, flattering the nasal walls, a light stinging, sweet cherries, raisins, oak, smoke, glue, all in a beautiful balance. Warm explosive onset, sweet pipe smoke, dried fruits, very warm, soft mouthfeel Unbelievably long finish on plums and, above all, oranges. An incredibly good drink, I think to this day I have tasted the 2000 different whiskys and graded for me individually, this is certainly one of the 10 best! Whenever I am asked about my favorite whisky I spontaneously remember this Ardbeg. I tried the whisky in the morning, the heavy sweet smell of oranges remained throughout the day like a haze in the room, such an intensity, I have not experienced again. As a grade, I give this Ardbeg 98 points awarded by me for the first time!

  28. Ras Mazunga scored this whisky 95 points Super Administrator

    Lots of sherry and really a lot of peat.
    I smell cherries, smoke and wood.
    The best Ardbeg I had sofar.
     

  29. Ras Mazunga scored this whisky 95 points Super Administrator

    Lots of sherry and really a lot of peat.
    I smell cherries, smoke and wood.
    The best Ardbeg I had sofar.
     

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