Ardbeg 1975 25 Year Old Old Malt Cask

Ardbeg 1975 25 Year Old

• Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Douglas Laing

70cl / 50%

A 1975 vintage Ardbeg released by indie bottler Douglas Laing in May 2001 after 25 years of maturation for their Old Malt Cask range.

Colour: straw. Nose: less typical! Closer to the ‘180’ again but even more extreme in it’s ‘green sourness’, which makes it more interesting actually, albeit a bit curious. Notes of white peaches, acidulous sweets (reminding me of small sweets we had when we were kids, called ‘Pez’) and lemon-sprayed oysters. Comes back into line after that, with more peat (but less than in the ‘274’), more almonds and more ‘wet dogs’ (I certainly hope dogs don’t read Whiskyfun). Ardbeg 1975 25 Year Old Old Malt Cask

Gets nicer and nicer with time. Classic, top-notch 1975 Ardbeg, except for hyper-big whiffs of crushed cloves that arise after quite a long time. Mouth: very, very excellent. Richer than both Platinums, more candied (kumquats and mint), much more resinous and much oakier as well (slightly varnishy), the rest being classic ‘coastal’ peat and tar. Concentrated. Finish: very long, almost hot, on oak, peat and pine resin plus salt. Rather a wham-bam 1975 Ardbeg even if it’s rather less elegant than the famous ‘702’