Ardbeg 25 yo Lord of the Isles 46% ~early 2000s vs Ardbeg Supernova Committee 2014 55%

Ardbeg 25 yo Lord of the Isles 46% ~early 2000s bottling

A rightly lauded bottle. I remember when this was 800 sgd at the duty free. Ardbeg, style: classic, era: 70s. Elegant, streamlined power. This might serve as an introduction to some of the best 70s Ardbeg. The sea in its most elemental form, stinging salt, crushed sand, white granite, acrid smoke, preserved lemon and gentian powder in packets inside a sea lashed coat. Dry peat full of wiry roots, lit coals and buckets of hot ash. An extinct style – I mean it. 91 pts

Ardbeg Supernova Committee 2014 55%

Ardbeg today has found a sweet spot at the other end of the spectrum. Here is raw peaty power, boisterous, muscular and revving. Its sinews bind up phenolics like tar, black oil, cypriol and chunky industrial grease in a tense concentration. Black smoke, a pile of compost and dry wood. Buckets of black ink. Perhaps as a result, the sea seems somewhat diminished though rock salt and stale sea-soaked sweaters comes through, as does some wintergreen and camphorated salves. Simple but powerful, and I would be lying if I deny its likeability. 89 pts