1974 Ardbeg Provenance 55.6%

A well known Ardbeg, always a huge pleasure to have another go at it. <strong>Colour</strong>: full gold. Nose: starts rather simply, on full smoke, peat and cooked apple. As often with these stunning Ardbegs, it needs a few seconds before it bursts into your nose… And here it goes: musk, ginger, sea air, iodine, wax polish, cooked apricots, old turpentine, old furniture, bandages, camphor… Need I say more? Even better than last time – this bottle was opened more than one year ago and was 2/3 empty. Incredible, it became even more complex! But wait, maybe the palate is a bit tired… <strong>Mouth</strong>: now it’s very quick in action! Smoky, peppery, gingery, very creamy and even sort of silky. Lots of Lapsang Souchong tea, grapefruit juice, dark chocolate… Also something a little ‘burnt’ (burnt cake, BBQ herbs, curry powder)… Not monstrously complex but extremely bold and balanced at the same time, with kind of a roughness that’s most enjoyable. The finish is ‘long like a day without bread’, peppery and spicy, with also some clove and quite some tannins. In short, still a total winner and a landmark bottling. Sep 2005, www.whiskyfun.com