Ardbeg Distillery has announced the release of two new whiskies, featuring the highly anticipated 23-year-old Y2K Vintage and the sought-after Ardbeg The Abyss, which draws inspiration from the original, limited-edition Ardbeg Corryvreckan.
The year 2000 was a transformative period for Ardbeg, marking its return to full production after being acquired by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997. Following extensive restoration, the distillery resumed operations as the new millennium began.
The Ardbeg Vintage Y2K is a unique creation made from some of the first spirits produced in the new millennium, utilizing a still that had served the distillery for 51 years before its retirement in 2001. This whisky was aged in exceptional bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, resulting in a single malt characterized by vibrant zesty notes and intensely sweet, smoky flavors. Tasting notes reveal aromas of lemon balsam, linseed oil, and heather honey, complemented by soot and peppermint, evoking memories of ground coffee and aniseed on the palate.
Dr. Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Master Distiller, remarked, “Ardbeg Vintage Y2K is a phenomenal souvenir of a pivotal year at Ardbeg. Crafted at the dawn of a new era in our historic still, this ultra-rare whisky has been carefully stored at the Distillery ever since. Herbal, citrusy, and sweet on the nose, it explodes with soot, peppermint, and coffee on the palate—a classic that embodies pure Ardbeg nostalgia.”
In addition to Y2K, Ardbeg has released The Abyss, a 34-year-old whisky that also draws from the original Ardbeg Corryvreckan. First launched in 1989, Corryvreckan was aged in bourbon casks and finished in unique, heavily toasted French oak casks. While most of these exceptional casks were consumed in the 2008 limited bottling, a select few were set aside. Now, from these rare barrels comes Ardbeg The Abyss, a rich and dark expression that immerses drinkers in flavors of toasted marshmallows and tea leaves, alongside notes of dark chocolate, pecan, leather, and creosote.
Dr. Lumsden described The Abyss as “the stuff of Ardbeggian legend.” He noted that it is crafted from the rare heart of the original Corryvreckan release, transported into a new realm of flavor through the passage of time. “Held in a tiny handful of those rare, heavily toasted French oak casks, its 400 bottles contain mysterious depths of toasted marshmallows, dark chocolate, pecan nuts, and leather—a rare taste of an Ardbeg icon revived and reimagined.”
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