Ardbeg 32 yo 1967 / 1999 Douglas Laing 47.5% 185 bottles

Ardbeg 32 yo 1967 / 1999 Douglas Laing 47.5% 185 bottles

First thing to note is that the whisky is a disturbing greenish brown. Cast any fears aside though because this nose is phenomenal, phenolic down to its oil flecked muddy feet, rooty, tarry and so medicinal you might believe the colour comes from outright blending in tinctures of seaweed, iodine, gentian, tea tee oil, angelica, burdock root and so forth. Coal, black oil, lit fireplace and grime. Plenty of ancient wood, like someone made a tea of bog oak and dried loam. Despite its heaviness, a bright and cutting coastal salinity permeates the nose, along with lemon balm and salt air. Unfortunately the palate misses the composition of the nose and loses something of the magic of the balance and intensity, and instead a part of it veers towards strange bitter herbal liqueurs. Its composure starts to fade as it dashes towards fresh ash, medicine and saltwater. Admittedly there are real weaknesses but the nose, I would say on the whole, an outstanding 91 pts