Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K: 23 Years Old
A greeting from the threshold of the new millennium
The Ardbeg Distillery once again presents a superlative with its latest bottling: the very first filled casks of the new millennium have been married for this single malt whisky from Islay, announces the press release from Moet Hennessy. The whisky was matured in them for 23 years for the Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K.
We don't need to worry about the explanation for the seemingly cryptic name, as Ardbeg provides it itself: "Y2K" is pronounced "Year-Two-K", which simply stands for the year 2000. And this millennium special edition is not the only one of its kind, as it is announced as the first in a new vintage series.
A millennium whisky
The turn of the millennium was a very special time for the Ardbeg Distillery, as it had just resumed production after years of standstill and purchase by Glenmorangie in 1997. While the whole world celebrated the event and many distilleries stopped production for fear of computer chaos, Ardbeg distillers stayed up all night. They made sure that the New Make Spirit, the freshly distilled spirit, ran continuously from the stills, as Moet Hennessy says.
The new make for this first edition of the Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K series run out of the old still, which was removed in 2001 after 51 years of use. The turn of the millennium marked another important milestone in the history of Ardbeg, as the Ardbeg Committee, the distillery's official fan club, was founded in 2000.
Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K was matured in bourbon and sherry casks and bottled without chill-filtration and in natural colour at 46% vol. It will be available from 18 June 2024 in Germany and Austria in a limited edition with an RRP of 750 euros.
Tasting notes for the Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K
Colour: Pale amber
On the nose: Herbal, sweet and fragrant, with a distant, subtly fragrant smokiness. A closer look reveals tangy notes of lemon balm, linseed oil and candied walnuts. The flavour intensifies with a splash of water, followed by notes of heather honey, creosote and some tarpaulin.
On the palate: A tingling, sorbet-like structure, vibrating on the tongue. The initial flavour is intensely sweet, with a burst of aniseed, toffee, digestive biscuits, peppermint, menthol, tar and coffee grounds. Sooty and tarry flavours then develop.
Finish: The long, lingering aftertaste reveals notes of antiseptic lozenges, bitter orange peel and oak tannins.
Images: Moet Hennessy
