Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky
- Distillery
- Ardbeg
- Region
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Type
- ABV
- 40%
- Price
- £1500
- Tasting notes
- Smokey, Old Wood, Sherried, Leathery
- Description
- Distilled in 1974, one of Ardbeg's most revered vintages, this First Cask bottling matured for 19 years and was captured in the mid-1990s by Direct Wines. The whisky shows the distillery at its peak: dense peat smoke interwoven with briny spice, leather, and subtle fruit complexity that speaks to mature cask influence. Texture is rich and warming, with a long maritime finish that slowly fades to ash and iodine. Essential for collectors exploring Ardbeg's golden period.
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Same price range with overlapping tasting notes:
- Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky vs Hibiki Japanese Harmony - 30th Anniversary Limited Edition — Hibiki, £1200, 5.0★ · Honey, Sherried, Malt Extract, Fragant
- Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky vs Laphroaig 32 Year Old (2015 Release) — Laphroaig, £1500, 5.0★ · Smokey, Sherried, Dried Fruit, Leathery
- Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky vs Port Ellen 33 Year Old - Batch 6 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) — Port Ellen, £999.95, 5.0★ · Smokey, Medicinal, Old Wood, Leathery
Different style alternatives to Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky
Same price range with a contrasting flavour profile:
- Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky vs Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve — Glengoyne, £995, 5.0★ · Malt Extract, Honey, Vanilla, Fresh Fruit
- Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky vs Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling — Old Rip Van Winkle, £1500, 4.5★ · Vanilla, Toasted, Nutty, Oily
- Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky vs Rosebank 21 Year Old 1992 (Special Release 2014) — Rosebank, £1499, 4.2★ · Leafy, Hay-like, Honey, Fresh Fruit
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ABV
40%
Age
NAS
Style
Price
£1500
✦ Neatly Summary
Ardbeg 1974 / 19 Year Old / First Cask #4380 Islay Whisky is a from Ardbeg (United Kingdom), bottled at 40% ABV. Expect intensely smoky, sweet and oaky character — smokey, old wood, sherried, leathery. Best suited for experienced drinkers who enjoy bold, complex whiskies. A collector's expression at a premium price point.
Distilled in 1974, one of Ardbeg's most revered vintages, this First Cask bottling matured for 19 years and was captured in the mid-1990s by Direct Wines. The whisky shows the distillery at its peak: dense peat smoke interwoven with briny spice, leather, and subtle fruit complexity that speaks to mature cask influence. Texture is rich and warming, with a long maritime finish that slowly fades to ash and iodine. Essential for collectors exploring Ardbeg's golden period.
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