Ardbeg – 1974 Provenance Bottled 1997 (70cl, 55.6%)

This is the first release of Ardbeg 1974 Provenance, an Islay single malt distilled in 1974 and bottled in 1997 at 55.6% ABV in a 70cl bottle. It first appeared in Europe in 1997, shortly after Glenmorangie took over the distillery, and was bottled for the UK and EU market. The nose opens on smoke, peat and cooked apple, then moves to musk, ginger, sea air, iodine, wax polish, cooked apricots and camphor. The palate is smoky, peppery and creamy, with Lapsang Souchong tea, grapefruit juice and dark chocolate. The finish is long, peppery and spicy, with clove and tannins.