Ardbeg 19 Year Old Single Cask 1991 Douglas Laing Old & Rare Platinum Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2010) 70cl

1 of only 212 bottles distilled 33 years ago and bottled 14 years ago.

Single Cask Ardbeg is now very sought after since Ardbeg do not hand out casks like they used to. Committee Releases tend to be more towards 50% and the normal release these days from 44-46%.

This whisky was distilled in March 1991 and aged for 19 years in a single refill hogshead.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.

With Single Cask versions of whisky, we are able to get just that little bit closer to holding our glass under the bung being opened & hence the huge amount of respect to Douglas Laing for enabling this as well as a few others including (but not limited to) North Star Spirits, AD Rattray, Hunter Laing & others.

For perspective, a 14 Year Old Single Cask from 2024 bottling is £525 on the Ardbeg website as of August 2024. So in perspective for one that is much older at £699 is astonishing value for money. Pre-Glenmorangie / Luis Vuitton takeover.

About Ardbeg

Ardbeg distillery has been producing whisky since 1798. The distillery is owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, and produces a heavily peated Islay whisky. The distillery uses malted barley sourced from the maltings in Port Ellen.

The Ardbeg distillery was officially founded in 1815 by John McDougall. But Whisky was distilled there long before that. There are no documentations, as Ardbeg was an illegal business back in 1794. The distillery is now owned by LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy), which also owns Glenmorangie distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. The current capacity is just over one million litres per annum and its water source is Loch Uigeadail, after which one of its famous releases is named.

53.1% ABV

70cl