Ardbeg 1974 / 18 Year Old / Cask #3345 / La Reserve Islay Whisky

Distillery
Ardbeg
Region
Country
United Kingdom
Type
ABV
40%
Price
£3000
Tasting notes
Smokey, Medicinal, Kippery, Oily
Description
Distilled in 1974, Ardbeg's final year operating its own maltings, this 18-year-old was aged in cask #3345 before being bottled in the early 1990s for La Réserve—capturing a truly legendary vintage at its mature peak. The 1974 distillation carries unique character from in-house malting, while 18 years of wood maturation has created layers of dried fruit, dark spice, and seaweed-salt alongside persistent peat smoke. The finish is long and warming, with a balance between sweetness and maritime smoke rarely found in younger Ardbegs. A museum-piece expression for serious collectors documenting the distillery's most historically significant period.

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Ardbeg 1974 / 18 Year Old / Cask #3345 / La Reserve Islay Whisky

Ardbeg

Ardbeg 1974 / 18 Year Old / Cask #3345 / La Reserve Islay Whisky

United Kingdom

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ABV

40%

Age

NAS

Style

✦ Neatly Summary

Ardbeg 1974 / 18 Year Old / Cask #3345 / La Reserve Islay Whisky is a from Ardbeg (United Kingdom), bottled at 40% ABV. Expect intensely smoky, peaty and oaky character — smokey, medicinal, kippery, oily. Best suited for experienced drinkers who enjoy bold, complex whiskies. A collector's expression at a premium price point.

Distilled in 1974, Ardbeg's final year operating its own maltings, this 18-year-old was aged in cask #3345 before being bottled in the early 1990s for La Réserve—capturing a truly legendary vintage at its mature peak. The 1974 distillation carries unique character from in-house malting, while 18 years of wood maturation has created layers of dried fruit, dark spice, and seaweed-salt alongside persistent peat smoke. The finish is long and warming, with a balance between sweetness and maritime smoke rarely found in younger Ardbegs. A museum-piece expression for serious collectors documenting the distillery's most historically significant period.

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