Ardbeg – 21 Year Old House Reserve Batch #1 (70cl, 52.9%)

Ardbeg – 21 Year Old House Reserve Batch #1 is a whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Aged 21 years, bottled at 52.9% ABV, 70cl. Since its establishment in 1815, The Ardbeg distillery has been on a tumultuous rollercoaster ride of ownership changes, closures, and reopening. Stability was only achieved relatively recently, when the ailing distillery was purchased in 1997 by industry giants, Glenmorangie. The subsequent years have seen the distillery’s popularity swell, with fans enticed by the signature style of tarry, sooty smoke, balanced against citric sweetness and an oily mouthfeel. While Ardbeg still retains its distinctive personality, it has definitely been influenced by Glenmorangie’s propensity for experimenting with cask finishing, and (dare we say it) NAS expressions. House Reserve: One of only 800 bottles released, finished in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, this release was only reserved for Ardbeg fans who made the journey to Islay and secure it directly from Ardbeg House .