WHISKYEUROPA2009 scored this whisky 90 points 
... a satisfying dram ...
Ardbeg Twenty One
- Whiskybase ID
- WB86722
- Category
- Single Malt
- Distillery
- 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
€ 806.64
Found 30 online shops. Lowest price:
€ 585.00
|
The Whisky Barrel | £ 2500.00 | |
Create free account
105 × in wishlist
This block is only visible for Whiskybase members.
396 × member ratings
This block is only visible for Whiskybase members.
1230 × in collection
This block is only visible for Whiskybase members.
Default bottling
Whisky reviews for Ardbeg Twenty One
63 users have left 69 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 88.23 points.
WHISKYEUROPA2009 scored this whisky 90 points
BunnaMan scored this whisky 89 points
N:
Dry iodine medicinal smokyness, peat, floral with oaky vanilla and citrus
T:
A light fresh whisky, a lot of copper contact/reflux with a long fermentation, grassy, citrus, vanilla, creamy and dry really nice sweet smoke.
F:
Long.
A light smokey sweetness with salty caramel.DimiIkon scored this whisky 89 points
Tasting: April 2022-
Wet peat, full of smoke, citrus, nice leather, peat, but also iodine and saltiness. Vanilla and oak wood.
-
Salty and with a vanilla sweetness, creaminess, dry and sweet smoke and a well-balanced body.
-
Long. Well balanced with nice sweetness and a dry smokiness. A certain saltiness with sweetness.
-
Malthead19 scored this whisky 87 points
COLOR: honey, gold
- basically a tasty well drinkable whisky with a
nice combination of smoke and sweetness BUT
- for an ARDBEG at that age and for the very tall one
Price unfortunately a disappointing 21 year old whisky
- with 370€ at the distillery and 500€ at the market DER
Curve joke and almost a cheek
- is definitely too expensive-
subtle, slightly smoky classic Ardbeg smoke, citrus fruit, vanilla, sweetness
-
creamy, mild attack, honey, vanilla, butter, sweetness, toffee, slightly watery
-
medium length soft watery finish ;
medium long sweet slightly smoky oily aftertaste
-
zzqfyl scored this whisky 90 points
dreamingpill scored this whisky 94 points
So delicious I drink it pretty fast, like childhood cola.Whiskyisfordrinking did not rate this whisky
Rather subtle on the nose, some vanilla, lovely freshness, some sweet fruit. More smoky in taste, a bit of salt, not particularly complex, does not seem so old either, Ardbeg typical sweetness is there. Then smokier and fresher in the finish.Caesar_Ulrich scored this whisky 91 points
CherryHeart scored this whisky 85 points
Nose: half of the sea water, half of the coal gangue, with light cream, salt, lemon flavor, yogurt adorned on it, the style is elegant and light but without losing the thickness.
Palate: The first bite is fierce peat and slightly smelly seawater, lemon-flavored soda water, damp and decayed wood, and little alcohol, this wine may not wake up.
Balance, Body: Medium-bodied wine, low fat, good balance, slightly spicy, and short-term burning.
Finish: short. Soot, sea breeze, smoked wood, milk foam.Dramtastic.86 scored this whisky 83 points
rampah scored this whisky 88 points
Menko scored this whisky 95 points
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!Baanaanaabob scored this whisky 87 points
Very smooth and citrusy ardbeg, lacks a bit of characterRoland7 scored this whisky 85 points
Fresh fallen leaves, vegetation, mashed potatoes, smoked meats, chicken broth, hard cheese, light smoke, metal shavings, old wood, honey, sweet pastries, creme brulee, marmalade, mint.Whisky.Hedonist.MY scored this whisky 87 points
-
Delicate tar, and very prominent medicinal smoke. The smoke is getting stronger with time, with just a slight hint of varnish. Unmistakenly Ardbeg, but I expect a lot more as the price of this malt is 10 times of the regular, standard Ardbeg
-
Extremely coastal and briny, the smoke is lingering behind the coastal notes. Seaweed, seashells, sea wind, etc. Nice saltiness.
-
Long and smoky, and salty. Quite a pleasant Ardbeg I must say. But really, I expect a lot more.
-
WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 91 points
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.SUSPIRIA.FOX scored this whisky 90 points
schengel10 scored this whisky 87 points
Only considering the malt a very good bottling!
But taking into account the price that was charged at the distillery in 2016 (€ 370), you'll see the malt different - sorry, but way too expensive for that achievement!
[Color] honey;-
subtle: citrus aromas, light smoke, sweetness, oak, vanilla;
-
creamy mild onset, buttery, honey, vanilla, herbs, some smoke, ashes, sweetness, appears "watery";
-
medium-long malty sweetish finish; in the aftermath weak smoke flavors;
-
gallfux did not rate this whisky
Certainly a good whisky. I like the nose. But in the taste, after 21 years, I expected something more. I felt it relatively flat in the mouth. Especially if you consider the price.-
Sea breeze. Caramel, burnt marshmallows. Now some lemongrass. Always a deep sweetness that reminds of light honey. The smoke is of course more subtle by age than other Ardbegs.
-
Very creamy. Caramels. Now some sweet lemon tea. The smoke builds up and it gets salty and slightly peppery. Hardly any bitterness.
-
Roasted chestnuts. Smoldering campfire. Salt and slightly dry.
-
jjkmlss scored this whisky 88 points
a pretty serious awkwardness at this price, too hyped maybe.-
Lily, vanilla, lemon bar, honey, chai tea, malt, bonfire, tissue
-
smoked salmon, orchard flowers, vanill, pastry, malt, almond, plastic, ash.
Body's not as mild, but silky enough. -
long, malty and smoky
-
whiskyfacile scored this whisky 92 points
for full review go to https://whiskyfacile.com/2016/10/21/ardbeg-21-yo-twenty-one-ob-46/-
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.
-
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.
-
F: il classico finale Ardbeg ceneroso e bruciato, molto lungo e molto ammaliante.
-
DenisLeonov scored this whisky 87 points
Balance sheet (22) You buy an expensive ticket for a rock idol and he was blown away ... and you spent the whole concert in a chair, waiting for the slam. (87)-
A delicate aroma ... citrus ... salt ... coriander ... barley ... and peat. (21)
-
The taste is soft, fruity, creamy ... wax and ash and salt. (22)
-
Finish fruit, mint ... a pinch of pepper and a plate, burnt dry wood ... viscous ... iodine and salt (22)
-
lachaineduwhisky did not rate this whisky
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-
"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.
-
Quite little spice - surprisingly, it is honeyed and fluid. Beautiful peat, reasonable corpulence.
-
Peat melt, persistent smoke. Fruity retro-olfaction and fresh.
-
checkpointuk scored this whisky 91 points
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: 90Pmr.p9 scored this whisky 88 points
Bluigi scored this whisky 83 points
Lorion scored this whisky 83 points
Hmm ... great, the rest "only" good. 83!-
A very interesting smoky note with cloves, oak and some orange peel. Light-fruited, slightly sweet.
-
Ashen, kräutrig, not as complex as the nose hoped.
-
Long, ashy, warm.
-
ARDBERG scored this whisky 88 points
BXpress scored this whisky 86 points
sample.
I will choose my words carefully here, because i think that it is a Whisky that you need to spend time with and that might possibly grow on you. However, judging by this sample, if i had gotten this rather underwhelming Whisky after opening the bottle (450 EUR) i would be just mildly enraged. I think i prefer Airigh Nam Beist to this.-
Very distantly herbal, mildy salty and peppery. Faint woody notes, some vanilla, some honey and lemons. There is this certain subdued elegance and softness that comes with age, very much refill in character, that needs to be worked at.
-
Slightly thin and earthy in the arrival and quite uneventful. Herbs, salt and pepper in the development. Hints of Absinth. The whole is kinda refreshing, nothing overbearing here, but its not that typically subtle (and amazing) integrated peat that you would find in good old peaters. Its more like weak thin peat (Yes there is a difference).
-
Short to medium. Still very fresh and herbal, slightly salty, with some herbal eau de vie in the after taste.
-
whiskycuse did not rate this whisky
Tasting Notes:
https://whiskycuse.wordpress.com/2016/10/30/ardbeg-21-yo-twenty-one-bourbon-casks-46-vol-ob-2016/Achany scored this whisky 88 points
I gave this one a lot of time in the glas and was rewarded. What a wonderful peat aroma, gentle and dignified. Salt, some citrus, oily, some sweet barley, spices and herbs, quite a lot going on and extremley well balanced. The finish is long and very gentle. Very, very nice dram!Macheye did not rate this whisky
This is a totally sophisticated dram offering both superb balance and poise. A true blast back in time for Ardbeg fans, demonstrating a somewhat different more underplayed peat than modern bottlings.
Full tasting note: https://www.thedramble.com/tastings/ardbeg/ardbeg-21-year-old/LordBellamy scored this whisky 87 points
Nose: Typical Ardbeg smoke that has a few salty and earthy undertones, citrus fruit / oranges, ginger and a dose of sweetness that goes towards cotton candy. Also some oak spiciness and very discreetly a little cinnamon. With a little searching you will also find custard Taste: oily, quite mild onset, sweet, earthy smoke, which is getting stronger, vanilla, some fruit, citrus Finish: Medium to long, initially a lot of smoke, which comes with sweet milk coffee, then comes the oak with decent strength and slight bitterness, which does not prevail Water: No, he is already a bit too weak on the chest anyway Conclusion: expectations are something stupid, especially if they are disappointed. From this Ardi I had hoped for much more, it lacks depth and complexity. But: It is and remains a great whisky that is really fun, I like it very well - but for the price? 320 GBP - that does not fit at all. The whisky itself gets 87 points from me.
If I was to rate the price tag, it would clearly be in the lower 70s rangeOmegastorm did not rate this whisky
Didn't see any twenty one on sale at Ardbeg last week.cfosterk scored this whisky 85 points
I should have added kelpie supernova 2015 and kildalton 2014 still available as well as the "21"
also dark cove; perpetuum; and a bottle called 1815.....cfosterk scored this whisky 85 points
available at the distillery today. I declined the attractive pricing point of £320 per bottle.
After getting a kelpie sample I bought a bottle at 89.00. committee release.
I do like that Ardbeg have some committee releases available to visitors to the distillery and that you can try before you buy. £15 for five distillery only samples is ok value.Kantenmechaniker scored this whisky 90 points
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.-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Whiskylifestyle scored this whisky 86 points
It’s quite a good whisky but not for this price, price / quality ratio is not right if you ask me.
A love it or hate it dram I guess. It has a lot of interesting aspects, it’s exploring and not an easy to drink dram. Right now I would score it 86 but it could be something totally different if I am in a different mood or have the chance to taste it more often. But then again, it could also stay the same. ;)-
Smoke, hay and yoghurt. Now this sounds weirder then it actually is, all topped with some sugar. The sourness for me is quite dominant, but I also get some nice fruits in there with some herbs. A lemony touch which is fighting with the sourness / yoghurt. After a while I get also more of a plastic smell to it.
-
Interesting, fresh and light fruits. A little bit of smokiness and lemons. Plastics, oily, iodine, definitely something else then the normal current ardbegs out there. For me it starts very sweet and fruity but quickly turns into a more chemical / plastic taste. Oily mouthfeel.
-
Short to mid-long finish, peppery, smokiness or a bit of ash. Drying and a bit of sea sand. Weird if you ask me, but it’s fun.
-
daverdaz scored this whisky 76 points
lincolnimp scored this whisky 79 points
Just tried this head to head with the Kilkerran 12 OB 46% bottle for bottle the Kilkerran is better
I can get 12 bottles of Kilkerran for one Ardbeg 21, a hard choice?lincolnimp scored this whisky 79 points
This is where my 82 score on taste alone is in big trouble. When this came out a few months ago the RRP was £310 yet I see now Green Welly have it for £425 and The Whisky Wankers , oops meant to say whiskybarrel want £1000 for it.
Even at auction it is going for around £350 with fees.
Seriously this whisky is worth no more than £45 - £50 tops, why is this so popular, there is nothing exceptional about it, why waste your hard earned money on this.
Shame on Ardbeg distillery for thinking this bottling is worth £310, perhaps they got the decimal point in the wrong place
Its decent nothing more, in truth a little boring palate wise but the nose is good.lincolnimp scored this whisky 79 points
With water:-
There is less of everything on the nose but also includes the cheesy socks which has to be a good thing.
The palate with just a little water is sweeter now and improved with the fruit element more in the background.
Finish is still a little short but it is pleasant.
This is decent quality but at 46% it lacks bite and while the nose is the best part the palate does not follow through and is a little mundane.-
Very sweet smoke and peat with loads of brine and lemon, but then there is some cow stable farmyard smell which is not unpleasant just not what I was expecting.
Ah yes there it is the also classic cheesy sweaty socks smell that I find in most Ardbegs, almost pungent and overpowering but being honest looking at the whole it is pretty decent and at least nose wise there is a lot going on. -
Creamy, full bodied but quite lacklustre apart from some lemon notes.
Peat is mixed in with some nice fruit, apple , lemon and hints of orange and there is some faint toffee about.
Smoke gets more involved as you go on and there are some ashy notes towards the end -
Approaching medium but lacks power even at 46%
-
AH Whiskyvitrine scored this whisky 86 points
Bishlouk scored this whisky 84 points
The nose and the mouth seem to me quite typical of Ardbeg (official); but I am not a specialist, that said. There is nevertheless consistency and complexity ... until we approach the final; and there "bardaf is the lurch", crash in the scenery.-
Marked medicinal peat, the pharmacy is not far. Arnica, camphor, medicinal plants. Behind that, a shy fruity apple and lemon peel.
-
Haaa, the asphalt coated tire is here! It had (almost) missed me ... Behind this big peat, syrup of yellow fruit manages to pull out of the game. Then peppers spices.
-
The fall in dive ... This is where the reduction shows all its weakness (and nonsense). The interesting flavors vanish suddenly, an aqueous and tasteless wave sweeps away and leaves only a bitter dryness behind it.
-
ErzWhisky scored this whisky 91 points
-
subtle, slightly dry smoke; a bit of salt; sweet; dried apricots and citrus fruits / peelings; Vanilla tones are also found
-
Sweetish and quite "supple" but also powerful with delicious smoky flavors; a bit of salt; blanched almonds; oily (nice mouthfeel)
-
still cute; Smoke sounds nice; warm; "Pithy"; oily; long
-
Landryn scored this whisky 92 points
hs305 scored this whisky 81 points
[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....torstenB scored this whisky 78 points
It is quite embarrassing what Ardbeg comes up with here. Overalle immature impression - there are bottlings much younger and cheaper from UD which offer the same quality.
I feel sad for peoplle who have sold der Galileos or Ardbeg Day 2012.
The 21 year old puts these bottlings into a new perspective.-
grassy, farmyard , yoghurt, something fruity, beneath smells of ironed cloth appear
-
lemons, slightly sweet with vanilla and coconut.
Overall appears a bit immature -
short with antiseptic bandages
-
dram-drinker scored this whisky 81 points
dram-drinker scored this whisky 81 points
Rather a mild and reluctant Ardbeg - reminds me on the good 17yo Ardbeg but I'm missing the typical Ardbeg punch and bonfire-
Sweet vanilla, rather mild peat and smoke - reminds me on marshmallows
-
Softly fruity notes, some peat and smoke, hints of vanilla and oak wood
-
Medium short, rather flat in the end
-
thijs100 scored this whisky 87 points
Look at my notes, then look at my rating. This is a whisky I wouldn't mind having on my shelf. Wouldn't mind at all. But now look at the original retail price. No thank you.-
Lovely fruity with an interesting note of lemon yoghurt, but also peaches. There's some heather and it has a subtle waxy quality. Vanilla custard and cane sugar give it a sweeter side. The wood smoke is very soft.
-
More obvious smoke now, with a peppery arrival and an oily mouthfeel. Sweetness provided by vanilla and marzipan, and some mint tee.
-
Dry and smoky. Medium to long.
-
Peter87 scored this whisky 87 points
squaadgras scored this whisky 89 points
St. Pauli scored this whisky 91 points
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.-
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. -
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.
-
Pleasantly evolving into a slight bitter note of gunpowder tea, white pepper, but also on soft peat, bandage, roasted almond and linseed oil.
-
fgg scored this whisky 95 points
Until now one of the most special taste experiences for me. If it's in front of you you want to empty the glass, then again you want to save it for later. Wow!
95/100-
The expected smokiness is surpressed by a sweetness: vanilla, toffee, caramel. After a second smell something almost sugary is revealed, like marzipan. Odd and very nice.
-
When you roll a little zip over your tongue you feel the whisky become 'thicker', almost gelatinous. You can feel the whisky dissolve in a shade of smoke
-
A long finish, a soft twinkle on the tongue, not an alcoholic one, a twinkle of taste.
-
JacobaEd scored this whisky 87 points
Hvdree scored this whisky 86 points
checkpointuk scored this whisky 91 points
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)foxboro scored this whisky 85 points
Mind Splitting - Nose 92 - Taste 80 - Finish 82. Sorry Ardbeg - Could be done better.lincolnimp scored this whisky 79 points
What an absolute joke now we have double cut & pastings of the same Serge Valentin note from whisky fun about this bottle.
There was the same note only last week so what is the point of re copying it?Is it in case we forget in a week?lucbertrand scored this whisky 91 points
Serge Valentin :
Ardbeg 21 yo ‘Twenty One’ (46%, OB, bourbon casks, 2016) Five stars
Yep that’s the new one. The packaging is talking about the late 1990s as the period when this was distilled, but the numbers do not quite add-up, do they? Rather early-to-mid 1990s, I wager - unless it's not a 21 - but it’s true that copywriters are rarely good at math. So rather distilled by Allied than by Glenmorangie Plc that did buy the distillery in 1997 and restart it in 1998 (Glenmo was later to be bought by LVMH, so Ardbeg is now partly owned by Diageo, which few people actually realise). Colour: white wine. Nose: definitely different. Basically, it’s got more peat smoke, and it’s got less tar/oil. So it’s rather fresher, less fattish and phenolic, and rather brighter. It’s also a little more coastal, with some seaweed and whiffs of beach bonfire, and perhaps a tad less ‘singular’ than its older sibling. Now, the medicinal notes do come through after a little while, and I do still find it typically ‘Ardbeg’ (no wonder). Almost forgot to say, I’m finding this nose beautiful. Even the tarry almonds do make it to our nostrils after around ten minutes. Mouth: we’re closer to the 1975, I have to say. Same kind of power and complexity, seashells, salt(iness), light tar, bitterish oil (fish oil?), iodine, plasticine… Perhaps does it have a little less citrus, just a little. The peat is perfect. Finish: long, and rather peppery this time. While the 1975 was fatter and tarrier, this is a little more maritime and, well, smoky. Comments: a great half-surprise. We’ve had some superb 19921-1994 Ardbegs in the past, and we’ve had some lousy ones as well. This new one certainly belongs to the former category. Me ve-ry hap-py. SGP:458 - 91 points.Liberezlatourbe scored this whisky 89 points
My first real old Ardbeg. I loved the notorious differences from the usual NAS. Age here is important. Final score 89.-
Oily peat, honey, vanilla, medicinal notes, candied lemons without sweetness, dried fish, gray pepper
-
Absolutely not watery texture for a 46%. Salty, dried fish, sea and lemon notes, pepper. And this peat always present but never invasive.
-
A bit too peppery for me from the start, dried fish, a nice warmth that prolongs the final which because of the dilution seemed to vanish at first sight. The ashtray arrives later.
-
SMC-HH scored this whisky 67 points
A decent whisky (and nothing more), which is completely overpriced. The competition delivers comparable quality from just 50 €.laurensl did not rate this whisky
Nose
Once it is allowed to breathe (be patient, Ardbeggians), this is considerably more subtle than you might expect. Ok, the peatiness is direct and dominant, but its effect is tempered by the fact that it has this slightly marine aspect, (imagine a beach after a gale), cooking mussels and clams, a hint of hot railway sleepers, white pepper, waxed leather, then lanolin. It’s a style I like, as it shows how complexity still grows in the absence of heavy oak influence. Water brings out more smoke, then wormwood and rain-moistened moss.
Palate
Instant spicy attack – that white pepper again – then a burst of peppermint/Polo mint before it turns to eucalyptus. The peat fire blazes away, but there is sufficient vanilla softness to keep things under control. Touches of calamus, then kelp, samphire, bay leaf and peat.
Finish
Dry, smoked.
Conclusion
Take it slow and you will be rewarded.
8.7/10 - Review by Dave BroomRagazzo scored this whisky 83 points
Very dissapointed... 83 Points from me...fradin11 scored this whisky 79 points
Othorion scored this whisky 88 points
Delicious!-
I'm on the beach and listening to the waves. Salty, fresh sea air flows around my nose and I can smell algae. Someone is grilling nearby, hm, the smoke is blowing gently, bringing with it the smell of grilled bacon. Suddenly, a rattle disturbs the idyllic ocean and a beach buggy rushes past me, trailing a cloud of smoke and machine oil. I walk closer to the group of barbecues and see a man in a leather jacket turning the meat and a second standing by and smoking a pipe while her wives prepare the dessert. One just cuts apples fresh and the other a few pears. Two little girls grin mischievously, while unnoticed by their parents, they have already started the dessert and dive peaches alternately in a jar of honey and a large bowl of custard before you eat them with relish and vollkleckern plenty of clothes.
-
Creamy sweetness spreads, warming it fills the mouth and salivation begins, I have to caramel cream sweets think, with nutmeg and smoke, but beautifully integrated and very gentle, I still have butter cookies, apple jelly and smoked almonds, with a hint Machine oil and ash
-
medium long, warm, smoky, spicy nutmeg, some pipe tobacco, buttery, slightly dry and salty
-
Koloman scored this whisky 88 points
Goethe scored this whisky 88 points
This Ardbeg is good quality. Compared by its ppm figure set before 1998 and the 21 years, this expression is different to everything bottled by the distillery the last ten years.
Concerning price/performance ratio: 6/10-
Peat, sweet, salted caramel, grass, vanilla, herbs, tar, crème brûlée the next day, grilled meat.
-
Peat, salt, ashes and grilled meat, grass.
-
Long. Peat, dry barley, ashes, algae, tabaco.
-
Tastingtags
Add tasting tags by clicking the flavours you recognized in this whisky.
-
Dried Fruit -
Sandy -
Sweaty -
Chocolate -
Citric -
Fresh Fruit -
Coal-gas -
Cooked Fruit -
Cooked Mash -
Cooked Vegetable -
Fragant -
Green-House -
Hay-like -
Honey -
Husky -
Kippery -
Leafy -
Leathery -
Malt Extract -
Medicinal -
Mossy -
New Wood -
Nutty -
Oily -
Old Wood
-
Plastic -
Rubbery -
Sherried -
Smokey -
Solvent -
Toasted -
Tobacco -
Vanilla -
Vegetative -
Yeasty
Whiskybase
Whiskybase is founded in 2007 with the goal to create the biggest resource of whisky information in the world. A community driven website built by and for whisky enthusiasts.
Whiskybase B.V.
Zwaanshals 530
3035 KS Rotterdam
The Netherlands
KVK: 60207205
VAT: NL853809112B01
Copyright © 2022