The Ardbeg distillery lies on the South shore of Islay, close to the other 'Kildalton' distilleries (Lagavulin and Laphroaig). The name Ardbeg comes from the Gaelic word 'ad bheag' for small hill. The malt is peated to an average of 55ppm at Port Ellen Maltings which gives the smoke, long fermentation times help to increase softness and impart fruity acidity. Both stills have quite a tall neck and are constricted just above the neck of the pot still. The lyne arm is also rising after the bend. All these factors result in a stable distillation with a lot of reflux which gives an oily, textural quality to the final product but also helps to refine the spirit.

Ardbeg 17 Years Old The Legend Returns
40% abv
Fresh and clean, with hints of pine resin, aniseed, sea spray and lavender soap- very gentle, very restrained, and rather elegant for an Ardbeg. With water, there is a distinctive, flinty minerality, along with subtle hints of sweet peat smoke, malted barley, and a touch of toasting bread. A beautiful, creamy texture is followed by a lovely combination of flavours, with aniseed toffee, café latte, fennel and gentle antiseptic soap. The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar. The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.
First released over 25 years ago in 1997, 17 Years Old was one of the first bottles to leave the Distillery after reopening. Unusually delicate, yet unmistakably Ardbeg. Retired in 2004, Ardbeggians thought that was the last they’d see of 17. But, while times have been moving quietly on, its return has been years in the making.
- Reference #:
- 23604
- Strength
- 40 ABV
- Bottles per Case
- 6 bottles
- Organic
- No
- Biodynamic
- No
- Vegan
- No
- Vegetarian
- No
- Sparkling
- No
