Ardbeg 1974 Provenance Europe Release

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance Europe

• Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Distillery Bottling

70cl / 55.6%

A legendary Ardbeg, the 1974 Provenance appeared in 1997 shortly after Glenmorangie’s takeover of the distillery. This version of Provenance was for the European market, other bottlings were done for the USA and Asia.

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance Europe Release – 51.7%

Poured into mini-glencairn, no hat (shown with “hat”), rested for 30-40 mins.

Also, poured half a shot into a shot glass to warm up on.

Color: deep, rich gold

Nose: Initially, alcohol is somewhat dominant, ardbeg peat dancing with green apple wood and barrel char, honey, pepper/wood spice, some cinnamon, a touch of chocolate. As it sits and opens up, more nicely balanced peat and barrel char shows up.

Palate: Initially, classic Ardbeg peat, flash of green wood followed by barrel char. Lots of honey, some caramel, and pepper/wood spice with a touch of chili pepper.

After it sits, like the nose, the peat and especially the barrel char is more evident, wisps of chocolate, maybe leather. Alcohol fades somewhat, but still makes itself known. Somewhat oily mouth feel, but this is a well balanced dram – amongst the peat/char, honey/toffee , wood/pepper spice. For me, even though the alcohol is always there, this is utterly drinkable and ejoyable.

(I also let the mini-glencairn sit with the hat on with a sliver left in the glass before I crashed for part of the night. After 2-3 hours, the peat/char was pretty dominant). Ardbeg 1974 Provenance Europe Release

Finish: Long with peat/char, some sweet honey, pepper/wood spice, maybe a bit of leather and chocolate. But the peat/char/touch of spice seems to go on forever.

Random Notes: Ardbeg found some very nice “honey bourbon” barrels to finish this in. Well balanced all around, again very drinkable. I’ve had ti on and off for about a week and a half. I revisited a sample of Michter’s Toasted Barrel and this helped me further identify the barrel char there. I’ll have to dig out my PHC 8yr (13th ed.) sample, as I really couldn’t find much of a char there. I need to find a sample of the PHC 10yr (14th ed.).