Ardbeg 17-year-old is coming back!

Ardbeg Distillery is reviving the fabled Ardbeg 17 Years Old in a limited edition, shared exclusively with the Ardbeg Committee. Revered for its delicate smoky notes, the original 17 Year Old bottling from the Islay distillery was a true icon of its time. This revival limited edition pays tribute to those who gave Ardbeg 17 its fame– from the whisky’s creators, to the fans who tirelessly lobbied for its return.

Released a quarter century ago in 1997, Ardbeg 17 Years Old was one of the first whiskies to leave the distillery when it re-opened after being saved from extinction by The Glenmorangie Company. Unusually elegant, yet unmistakably Ardbeg, the bottling soon became a firm favourite among the distillery’s most dedicated fans during the early days of its resurgence. Stalwarts of the Ardbeg Committee mourned the whisky’s loss when it was retired in 2004, and they have been calling for the single malt’s revival ever since.

Ardbeg usually has an ABV of 46 percent or higher and is always non chill-filtered. But on their mission to replicate Ardbeg 17 Year Old’s classic character, the whisky creation team combined peated and unpeated stock, and tweaked their typical production process to be able to bottle Ardbeg 17 Years Old at 40 percent ABV, and chill-filter the whisky – just as it used to be.

The result is a delicate take on the distillery’s trademark smoke as it is typically known today. Distinctly balmy and medicinal, the bronze colour beverage’s enticing minerality bursts into sweet smoke and malted barley. Muted, yet undeniable wisps of peat still make their presence felt, with hints of tar and oak.

Available exclusively to members of the Ardbeg Committee, Ardbeg 17 Years Old will be available online at Ardbeg.com, at the Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay, and in Ardbeg Embassies from 24^th September 2024, at RRP of £160.