[November, 2016]  Big, big disappointment!!!  There is not much difference to the younger standard bottlings that justify such an extraordinary price.  In fact, I like the standard 10 year old much better.

Yes, this one is a little bit softer and more balanced then the TEN but at the same time there are these immature off-notes I know from the STILL YOUNG and ALMOST THERE bottlings that I simply do not like.  No way this tastes like a 21 year old - in a blind tasting I would guess not more than 15 years max. (rather less).

But the biggest disappointment is that all these additional years of maturation have not added any single new or changed flavour compared to the younger standard bottlings.  So why the hell should one spend so much money on a rather tired, flat and uninspiring whisky?   And beware all you whisky investors, too:  You will certainly loose money on this one if you do not sell it quickly before the bubble bursts - bad news spread much, much faster than good ones....

http://kaypingers-whiskyblog.de/frontend/fullarticle.php?id=230 Color: straw yellow Nose: Yellow-green fruit flavors with a pleasant dense spiciness. Papaya, mango and subtle lemon with salt-seasoned spice. Very creamy, already waxy in the nose. Peat, smoke and medicinal notes act in the background with delicate caramelized aromas of brown sugar cubes and vanilla. Taste: Slender body, but with a lot of maritime spice and immediately powerful. Yellow-green smoky fruit combination which has a slightly tarry and very straightforward effect on the tongue. Dry peat, leather notes, with delicately dusty paper and a little wood make it look rather dry towards the finish. Finish: Medium long - Dry-dry and balanced smoky. The fruit flavors have subsided and notes of honey, white chocolate, pepper, ashes and some coal coming to the fore. Maritime notes with delicious peat stick on the tongue. Comment: A great Ardbeg distilled in turbulent times. Well done! 91 points N: 91P / G: 91P / F: 90P