Ardbeg Twenty One 21 years old Committee Release 2016 Single Islay Malt Whisky 46%

21 years on cask and only 8,268 bottles in the world, an age Ardbeg rarely puts on display.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Twenty One 21 Year Old Committee Release 2016 is an Islay Single Malt Whisky distilled in spring 1995, bottled in 2016 after 21 years of maturation, at 46%.

The release is a Committee Release, reserved for members of Ardbeg's own fan community, and is among the oldest vintage bottles the distillery has ever released at this scale.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Restrained, mature peat alongside a soft sweetness that only truly shows after so many years on cask.

Palate

Rounded and well balanced, where the classic Ardbeg smoke has been smoothed by decades of maturation without losing its identity.

Finish

Long and elegant, with a lasting smoky warmth that speaks to the age.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Twenty One
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: Spring 1995
Bottled: 2016
Number of bottles: 8,268 bottles
Edition: Committee Release 2016
EAN no.: 5010494934410

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Mature · Elegant · Rounded

Investment Potential

High. As one of Ardbeg's oldest releases, limited to 8,268 bottles and long sold out from the distillery, Twenty One is regarded as one of the most sought-after bottles among Ardbeg collectors.

Did You Know?

Ardbeg won "World Whisky of the Year" two years running in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, a recognition that cemented the distillery's status in the very years this 21-year-old was bottled.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardbeg Twenty One 21 Year Old Committee Release 2016

What is a Committee Release from Ardbeg?

These are special releases reserved for members of Ardbeg's own fan community, often in limited numbers and with unusual age statements.

How many bottles of Twenty One 2016 exist?

8,268 bottles were released, making it one of the rarer vintage releases from Ardbeg.

Is Ardbeg Twenty One worth it?

With 21 years of maturation, a limited run and status as one of the distillery's oldest releases, it's an attractive buy for the collector wanting to invest in a rare bottle.

How does a 21-year-old Ardbeg compare to Ardbeg Ten?

The smoke is more restrained and integrated after decades of maturation, giving a rounder, more mature character than the younger, more direct Ten.

Should Twenty One be drunk neat or with water?

Try it neat first, so the full complexity from the many years of maturation can unfold.

Which glass suits it best?

A tulip-shaped whisky glass lets the mature, rounded aromas come forward gently.

Why are older Ardbeg releases sought after by collectors?

The distillery's history of closure and reopening in the 1990s means older vintage bottles are limited and often long sold out from the distillery itself.