Ardbeg Distillery changed hands and its doors opened once more. In those days, very little Ardbeg was being distilled. Even less was destined to be bottled as a precious single malt.
Cask 17/1989 is one of the first to be filled when the Ardbeg stills began to sing once more.
Celebrating Ardbeg’s 1989 revival, The Rollercoaster’s second whisky is one of the Distillery’s final casks left from that year. Distilled on 6th December, just weeks after production restarted with malt now supplied by Port Ellen maltings. Its spirit was much more lightly peated than had formerly been traditional for Ardbeg or is today.
Laid down in bourbon barrels and transferred into a refill bourbon cask to enhance its gently peated character.
TASTING NOTES
Aroma
Sooty and drying, with wax crayons, fennel, mustard seed and toasting bread, along with that most distinctive of Ardbeg aromas of pine resin or smoked lime skins. A splash of water releases a creaminess, with a gentle touch of vanilla and smoked pear, along with some briny sea spray.
Taste
A creamy and effervescent texture is followed by a burst of aniseed, toffee, hints of popcorn, smoked paprika and gentle, soothing antiseptic lozenges. The tarry smoke is always present, but always beautifully integrated.
Finish
The finish is long, vibrant and effervescent, with a suggestion of lemon balsam, soot, tar, liquorice and gentle, toasty oak.
