Ardbeg – 17 Year Old (75cl, 40%)

This is a 17 year old Islay single malt from Ardbeg, first launched in 1997, retired in 2004 and later recreated as a limited edition. It is bottled at 40% ABV and is chill-filtered. The spirit blends heavily peated Ardbeg with a portion of unpeated, giving a restrained, delicate style. The nose offers pine resin, aniseed, sea spray and lavender soap over gentle peat smoke. On the palate there are vanilla cream, lemon zest, malted barley, toasted almonds and light seaweed. The finish carries medicinal peat smoke, vanilla fudge, citrus oils and drying oak spice.