Ardbeg – Very Young Vintage 1997 (70cl, 58.9%)

Ardbeg Very Young is a single malt from the Ardbeg distillery on Islay, distilled in 1997 and bottled by the distillery in 2003 at about six years old. It comes from the Committee Reserve series, in an outturn of 4,002 bottles, and is bottled at 58.9% in a 70cl bottle. It is typically described as smoky and maritime: peat smoke, sea air, iodine and salt, with lemon, vanilla and sweet malt. The palate adds burnt sugar, salted peanuts, grilled meat and citrus peel, and the finish is medium in length and smoky, with salt, vanilla, caramel and smoked bacon.