Ardbeg Twenty One

Name: Ardbeg Twenty One
Brand: Ardbeg
SKU: 86722
Rating: 88.14 (378 reviews)

Overall rating: 88.14/100
votes: 378

Whiskybase ID: WB86722
Category: Single Malt
Distillery: Ardbeg
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Bottled: 05.05.2016
Stated Age: 21 years old
Casktype: Ex-Bourbon Casks
Number of bottles: 8268
Strength: 46.0 % Vol.
Size: 700 ml 700 ml 750 ml
Bottle code: L65741
Barcode: 5010494934410
Bottled for: Ardbeg Committee
Added on: 12 Sep 2016 12:22 pm by St. Pauli

Average value

€ 680.38

Found 21 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 545.00

	The Whisky Barrel	£ 1000.00

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378 × member ratings

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Default bottling

There are 2 other releases…

Whisky Reviews for Ardbeg Twenty One

62 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 88.14 points

hs305 scored this whisky 81 points
26 Nov 2016 11:32 pm
[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....

Nose

86 86

Taste

84 84

Finish

82 82
Kantenmechaniker scored this whisky 90 points
29 Jan 2017 7:05 pm
The whisky comes across rather tame and tame compared to the young Ardbegs of recent years, but does not miss the desired complexity that one expects here. I like it, even if a few percent more naturally would not have hurt.

Nose

The first impression goes in a floral direction, to a well-integrated medical smoke, some cinnamon, vanilla and also significant oak influence, which brings a certain spiciness, with some time you can also find sweet overripe fruits (apple, pear), If you stick to this note, it looks light and fruity, a little mint, goes in the direction of tea, green tea, slightly nutty

Taste

first smoke, intense, then directly the typical sweetness, which is known from Ardbegs, fruity, again slightly gammelig, nutty, again cinnamon, salty, is getting creamier, the mouth is full, vanilla, and then comes dry oak

Finish

the mouth is still full of aromas, it gets a little drier, slightly sour on the palate, roasted aromas, the smoke settles and lies like a veil over everything
Menko scored this whisky 95 points
14 Jan 2020 6:18 pm

A lot of reviews already.
But I added this one because we compared the 3 bottles of the twentysometing range: the 21, 22 and 23 years old.
We liked the 21 the best, closely followed by the 22 (just 1 point difference).
The 23 was the least of the twentysometings (a bit chemical) but still very good.
From memory I personally think the 17 years old would come between the 22 and 23 years old.
Considering the price the 21 would be the best buy.
You have to give the 21 some time. At first it appears to be a bit weak, but be patience!
After some time in the mouth it turns out to be a fantastic, complex whisky with a brilliant finish.
I can see why the peat lovers expect more firework. This one is a bit shy. But it doesn't need to shout to tell a good story. The 21 is very refined!
Ardbeg 10 after the 21 is like having fish and chips after a 3 star Michelin diner. Nothing wrong with fish and chips, as long as you haven't had the Michelin diner first.
The 21 is a great Ardbeg!
checkpointuk scored this whisky 91 points
16 Feb 2018 11:10 am

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
WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 91 points
29 May 2019 8:52 pm

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2019/05/17/feis-ile-2018-ardbeg-day-excise-house-tasting/

N: Ex-bourbon cask-matured, this is another bottle filled by Mickey Heads himself. I first pick out a Bowmore-esque floral aspect and a keen likeness to Port Ellen with its solid-yet-subtle smokey farmy distillate, soft pears, melon, sweet lemon trees and spicy aromas. You’ve got to dig that sublime sweetness and overall softness.
T: Farmy & coastal – so surf n turf – the mouthfeel oozing softly with poetic smoky wisps that make their way up through a soft spicy layer.
F: Port Ellen-esque once again with a medium-length finish and soft fade on a barley-moist ethereal sweet peat smokiness with all number of varied layers through & through.
C: An Islay best-of perhaps, great for a Feis Ile-themed blind tasting. I wouldn’t dare add water to this one however as it’s quite delicate, especially towards the tail.
whiskyfacile scored this whisky 92 points
11 Apr 2018 4:46 pm
for full review go to https://whiskyfacile.com/2016/10/21/ardbeg-21-yo-twenty-one-ob-46/

Nose

N: intensissimo per un 46 gradi. Tra i classici descrittori della distilleria, qui sono sugli scudi i sentori medicinali e balsamici (garze, canfora, eucalipto), fumo acre di torba, limoni/lime e liquirizia. La marinità non è poi così pronunciata, ma un senso di iodato quello sì di certo. Confetto e vaniglia, tanta tanta botte ex bourbon. Zenzero e mela gialla.

Taste

P: che massacro sensoriale! Intenso, compatto, esplosivo. Rimangono evidenti le note balsamiche (aghi di pino, eucalipto) ma si fondono qui con un spesso muro di dolcezza. Il sapore è una paradossale unione di toffee e pancetta arrostita, di frutta tropicale davvero troppo matura, ma comunque invitante. Ancora tanta vaniglia, sale, liquirizia, limone e catrame. Il tutto come fuso assieme.

Finish

F: il classico finale Ardbeg ceneroso e bruciato, molto lungo e molto ammaliante.
lachaineduwhisky did not rate this whisky
05 Mar 2018 10:45 pm
No surprise or development in the mouth, he plays a fairly agreed partition. (Without any defect attention) Enthusiasm: Nose 4/5
Mouth and finish 3/5 Whisky n ° 1643

Nose

"Gourmet ham"! Visit to the butchery ... horse! (saddle leather). A bit maritime. The fruits are growing, with golden malt behind. With the opening it becomes more melted and creamy, with a small hint of thyme.

Taste

Quite little spice - surprisingly, it is honeyed and fluid. Beautiful peat, reasonable corpulence.

Finish

Peat melt, persistent smoke. Fruity retro-olfaction and fresh.
ErzWhisky scored this whisky 91 points
12 Dec 2016 7:05 am
Nose

subtle, slightly dry smoke; a bit of salt; sweet; dried apricots and citrus fruits / peelings; Vanilla tones are also found

Taste

Sweetish and quite "supple" but also powerful with delicious smoky flavors; a bit of salt; blanched almonds; oily (nice mouthfeel)

Finish

still cute; Smoke sounds nice; warm; "Pithy"; oily; long
St. Pauli scored this whisky 91 points
03 Nov 2016 9:02 pm
I have to say that this is an excellent whisky. Don't expect a blockbuster with heavy peaty and medicinal influences. It has matured at least for 21 years (in refill casks?). Give it time, and it shows its complexity and delicious oily and earthy side.

Nose

The nose is different from other recent Ardbeg OB's. It's oilier and less peated compared with the other OB's from the new era. More concrete: it's rather on linseed oil, engine oil and petrol, camphor, fresh plaster and leukoplast.
Behind this oiliness, there is an earthy layer, in which the moist peat is smoothened by the maturation. Next, there is licorice root, and forest soil (humus). The herbal side of this dram shows eucalyptus, sage and thyme. This is completed by sweet associated notes of creamy vanilla and wood shavings. There is some fruit (peach and passion fruit), yet not very distinctive. A hint of marzipan completes this rather soft and complex nose.

Taste

Rich, smooth and oily, focusing on the earthy side. Licorice, coffee bean, humus dominate. Then there is this pu erh tea, one of the better sorts. Further, it's a bit darker than on the nose, with a tarry note alongside the various oils. The sweetness of vanilla, marzipan and wood gently develops in a mildly bitter finale which is dominated by gunpowder tea and eucalyptus.

Finish

Pleasantly evolving into a slight bitter note of gunpowder tea, white pepper, but also on soft peat, bandage, roasted almond and linseed oil.
checkpointuk scored this whisky 91 points
14 Oct 2016 10:00 am

http://www.weinkenner.de/2016/ardbeg-twenty-one-committee-release-2016-vs-vintage-1977-und-1978-41040/ Color: straw yellow
Nose: Yellow-green fruit flavors with a pleasant, dense spiciness. Papaya, mango and subtle lemon flavored with salt. 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, leathery notes with lightly 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 charcoal come to light. Maritime notes with delicious peat stick on the tongue.
Comment: A great Ardbeg that was distilled in turbulent times. Well done!
91 points (nose: 91 / taste: 91 / finish: 90)

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