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18th September 2025 |
Ardbeg
unveils Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old
– The second Millennium Series release,
aged in Amontillado Casks, this rare 24
Year Old Edition Marries Nutty
Complexity with Signature Smoke.
 Ardbeg Islay single malt Scotch whisky
has unveiled the second expression in
its ultra-rare Millennium Vintage
Series: Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old,
described as a delicately nutty and smoky
whisky representing a pivotal chapter in
the distillery’s history. This highly
limited release is among the very first
Ardbeg's ever to be finished in
Amontillado sherry casks.
The year 2000 is remembered not only for
the looming "millennium bug" but also
for marking a new dawn at Ardbeg.
Rescued from near closure in 1997, the
distillery underwent extensive
restoration before resuming full
production in 2000. The whiskies in the
Vintage_Y2K series commemorate this
revival, blending spirit from Ardbeg’s
venerable 51 year old still—retired in
2001 after decades of service—with
innovative whisky-making approaches.
For this second release, Ardbeg’s
Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill
Lumsden MBE, turned to his favourite
style of sherry casks for inspiration.
He finished a parcel of millennium stock
in carefully chosen Amontillado casks—an
unprecedented step for Ardbeg. Married
with classic bourbon-aged Ardbeg, the
result they say is an exceptionally
refined whisky, layered with creamy
toffee, almonds, and tobacco, while
retaining the unmistakable smoky
character. Bottled at a custom ABV of
47.8%, this expression is one year older
and even more limited than the debut
Vintage_Y2K release, surely making it a
coveted treasure for collectors.
Dr Bill said: "The ultra-rare whiskies
of our Vintage_Y2K series are hugely
precious, since they mark the start of a
new generation of Ardbeg. Older and even
rarer than its predecessor, the 24 Years
Old is a real treat for Ardbeg
super-fans.
"Distilled in Ardbeg’s historic still,
its spirit is some of the last created
before it was retired. And while
Amontillado sherry is an all-time
favourite of mine, we have not used them
before to finish an Ardbeg. Combined
with classic Ardbeg, their wood creates
a sublimely delicate whisky. Sherried
notes of toffee and nuts meet bonfire
embers and coal tar soap, with an edge
of menthol. A fitting celebration of
Ardbeg’s rebirth."
The millennium also brought another
milestone for Ardbeg: the founding of
the Ardbeg Committee, a dedicated group
of fans determined to safeguard the
distillery’s future. Today, 25 years
later, the Committee has grown into an
institution, uniting more than 200,000
members across 140 countries. Membership
remains free at ardbeg.com.
Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old has
already earned acclaim, winning a Double
Gold award at the International Spirits
Challenge 2024.
With a RRP of £680 you will find Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24
Years Old available limited numbers from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old Review
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Bottled at 47.8% ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Pungent,
deep, aromatic and spicy, with beautiful
notes of creamy toffee, flowering
blackcurrants, creosote, coal tar soap,
antique leather and almonds. With a
splash of water, hints of charcoal,
graphite and damp moss emerge, along
with a distinct sooty note.
Taste: Astonishingly
powerful and spicy on the palate, with a
burst of deep intense, smoky flavours.
Coal tar mingles with woodsmoke, while
antiseptic lozenges meet bonfire embers.
The Amontillado sherry casks are
present, albeit in the background, with
subtle notes of toffee, leather,
cinnamon and clove.
Finish: Long
and lingering, with hints of menthol,
eucalyptus, linseed oil and charcoal.
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