ARDBEG - Airigh Nam Beist - Vintage 1990 - Limited Edition - Bottled in 2007 - 46% ABV
Ardbeg is an iconic distillery located on the island of Islay, in Scotland. Recognized as one of the oldest and most prestigious distilleries on the island, Ardbeg has built a worldwide reputation for its heavily peated and powerful whiskies. This exceptional house made history by becoming the first whisky to travel into space: in 2011, part of its production was sent to the International Space Station to study the effects of weightlessness on aging and aromas, demonstrating its avant-garde spirit and innovation.
Produced on this historic site since 1798 and marketed from 1815 — the same year as its famous neighbor Laphroaig — the Ardbeg brand quickly gained international success, especially prized for the composition of exceptional blends. However, from 1838, the distillery went through a difficult period marked by many ownership changes and several bankruptcies, before closing in 1981. Ardbeg's revival began in 1989 with minimal, occasional production limited to two months per year. It was only in 1997, under the impetus of the Glenmorangie group, then integrated into the luxury group LVMH, that the distillery fully resumed its activity and regained its rightful place on the global market.
Ardbeg's two traditional stills allow an annual production of one million liters of alcohol, exclusively marketed as exceptional Single Malt. Aging is mainly done in first and second fill Bourbon casks, complemented by finishing in Sherry casks which adds elegance and aromatic complexity. This whisky is exceptionally heavily peated, with an aromatic profile distinguished by smoky, spicy, and sweet notes, while offering a softer and less iodine character than other Islay whiskies, thus appealing to connoisseurs seeking authenticity and depth.
The name Airigh Nam Beist, pronounced "Arry-nam-baysht", means "refuge of the beast" or "animal refuge" in Gaelic, and refers to the small freshwater lake located near the Ardbeg spring, Loch Uigeadail. Although bottled over a three-year period from 2006 to 2008, all expressions of Airigh Nam Beist come exclusively from the same distillation made in 1990. This rare edition is a 17-year-old carefully matured in first and second fill Bourbon casks, offering remarkable complexity and maturity for discerning enthusiasts.
Peated (+ 50-55 ppm)
