Ardbeg 17 Years Old Committee Release 2024 - 70cl/40%

Ardbeg 17 Years Old Committee Release 2024, matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 40% ABV with chill-filtration, revives the legendary expression first launched in 1997 and retired in 2004. This mellow, easy-drinking Islay single malt balances Ardbeg's signature peat with elegant restraint, offering a lighter, more approachable profile than its bolder siblings. Nosing reveals a fresh and clean character, evoking a maritime breeze with hints of pine resin, aniseed, sea spray, and lavender soap—remarkably gentle and elegant for an Ardbeg. Subtle flinty minerality emerges, intertwined with sweet peat smoke, malted barley, toasted bread, seaweed, salty sea air, shell limestone, lightly candied citrus fruits like lemon and orange, vanilla, and a faint ashy campfire smoke that evolves into a tarry note over time. Adding water amplifies the mineral and smoky elements, creating a balmy, medicinal aura with oceanic freshness. On the palate, it presents a creamy, slightly oily texture that's soft and inviting, compensating for the lower ABV with peppery, spicy oak. Flavors unfold in harmonious layers: aniseed toffee, café latte, fennel, gentle antiseptic soap, delicate citrus notes, bitter hints of ashy smoke, maritime salinity, shell limestone, seaweed, and subtle tar. The peat is present but restrained, blending savory umami with sweet maltiness for a balanced, easy-drinking experience without overwhelming complexity. The finish is lingering and medium-long, transitioning to chewy oak, cocoa powder, tar, salty maritime echoes, tart spiciness from ashy smoke, delicate citrus, and a hint of iodine that fades gracefully. Overall, this release captures a nostalgic, refined peatiness—distinctly Ardbeg yet more subtle and versatile, ideal for those seeking elegance in smoke