Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength 57.8%

[Lawrence]

Has anybody ever tasted the OB ARDBEG Ten years Old Cask Strength 57.8% and bottled in 2003?

[Deactivated Member]

I'm not aware of this bottling. Do you have one in your mitts, or in the crosshairs? I'll be right out.

[Spirit of Islay]

Hi guys ,
this was a Japan only release (haven't tried this one unfortunately) , it was released about the same time as the Feis Ile , wish they'd done the same as this years 1990 Japan only bottling and kept some back at the distillery . Caskstrength 10yo must be one of the most anticipated Ardbegs , i know i keep hinting to people in important positions that a release would go down pretty well amongst us Ardbeggians !
Slainté
Gordon

[Admiral]

I had a cask strength Ardbeg from the SMWS about two years ago. What a beauty!! (Although it was in its late teens!)

I've also had two of the Committee Reserve bottlings which were at cask strength, and they were also significantly good.

I imagine this 10yo must really pack a punch!
Seems strange that an expression would be released for Japan only? You'd think they'd at least hit all of Asia, or the Pacific, or something? What did the Japanese do to receive such a blessing?

Cheers,
Admiral

[Lawrence]

I wonder what the logic was to bottle a Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength for such a tiny portion of the market? And to do a limited release, 600 bottles when the rest of us would be thrilled to have a cask strength OB Ardbeg. Let's hope they introduce one soon.

[hpulley]

I suspect it has to do with distributors and distribution and marketing deals. If you're going to do a small Japanese language packaging and marketing deal anyhow, doing a separate batch of labels and boxes you might as well do a single cask run at the same time. In Canada we get a French/English box for Ardbeg TEN and Laphroaig 10yo while most others are just english with a sticker of the minimum required french (if that).

Harry

[Deactivated Member]

I'm in Quebec a lot, and anything available at the SAQ is fully bilingually labeled. What a complicated thing it is to send stuff to different markets--if it was only labels, it would be bad enough, but of course North American bottles must be 750ml, while British ones are 700ml. And then there are duty-free 1l and even 1.14l bottles...what do y'all get in Europe and Australia?

I imagine Japan is likely the biggest market in Asia for Scotch, both in terms of taste and the money they are willing to spend. It doesn't surprise me that they get any number of special bottlings. Wish I could work out a way to get some o' that Ardbeg CS, though.

[Admiral]

In Australia, we get 700ml bottles.

Most (although certainly not all) single malts are also bottled at 43% for our market as well.


Perhaps the Japan incident is a trial run or market test case? They're seeing how the Japanese react, and based on its success or otherwise, that may influence how a future cask strength gets marketed for other global markets?

Cheers,
Admiral

[Spirit of Islay]

Perhaps the Japan incident is a trial run or market test case? They're seeing how the Japanese react, and based on its success or otherwise, that may influence how a future cask strength gets marketed for other global markets?

Cheers,
Admiral

Don't think so Admiral , if anything it won't be until at least 2007/8 until we might see a CS Ten . That's what Stuart seemed to say when i interview him for my site and with the AVY been released at CS up until it reaches 10yo .

slainté

Gordon

[Lawrence]

After reading your posts and thinking about it I think Ardbeg would offer the CS to the Committee members first as they did with the Ardbeg Very Young. Here's hoping.

[Admiral]

But isn't the idea of the Committee bottlings to provide a unique and different expression that the public don't get access too?

I thought that's why they called them "Committee Reserve" bottlings.

I haven't seen any VYA yet....was the VYA offered to the committee the exact same vatting? Or at the same strength?

Cheers,
Admiral

[Lawrence]

Admiral, this is from the Ardbeg website:

Very Young Ardbeg

The Committee has spoken. This release of Very Young Ardbeg at 58.3% is a vigorous whisky on its way to full maturity. We asked for feedback on our first bottling of Very Young last year and the comments were so good that our 'under discussion' bottling has graduated to a 'committee approved' bottling.
It's smokey, fresh and fruity....enjoy.

It seems that the Committee bottlings are limited to the members first and on rare occasions they spill into the main stream as did Ardbeg Very Young.

[hpulley]

It looks like the Kildalton has also 'spilled' out into the regular bottling page. Here's hoping we get Very Young, Oogie and Kildalton here soon

Harry

[Lawrence]

Harry, do you think they made enough Kildalton for sale around the world?

[hpulley]

I don't know about worldwide distribution but Stuart said (offhand in a chat group, not in an official release or anything) that all three would be in north america this year, including Ontario Canada. Didn't ask about BC, sorry.

Harry

[Deactivated Member]

Harry, do you think they made enough Kildalton for sale around the world?

There's always enough, if the price is high enough. I don't mean that to sound cynical--it's just basic laws of supply and demand.

[Admiral]

Well....obviously, it would only be officially distributed to certain markets, but ebay or internet sales from liquor stores that despatch overseas obviously opens up the doors a bit.

[Ed]

Hello All,
I will have to go and have a look for this. I don't think I have seen it, but I am not sure. I have seen the Laphroiag 10 CS and for a reasonable price, I may have seen the Ardbeg 10 CS... I am just not sure.

If I keep buying whisk(e)y at this rate I will have to open a shot bar to support my habit...
Ed

Ps. We just had a little earthquake. I have got to get my whiskey collection down off the bookshelves and someplace safer...

[STella]

We have a bottle of this Ardbeg for the japanese market. Bought it on spec 18 months ago, but trying to find out how much its worth for the insurance! Can't seem to find a hint of it anywhere. Any help peeps could give us would be gratefully received

[bernstein]

Hi STella,
this particular bottling retails at 169,90 EUR around here.
Hope, it helps.

[MacLover]

I imagine Japan is likely the biggest market in Asia for Scotch, both in terms of taste and the money they are willing to spend. It doesn't surprise me that they get any number of special bottlings. Wish I could work out a way to get some o' that Ardbeg CS, though.

Hello MrTattieheid,

Just so happens that I have a spare bottle of the Ardbeg 10YO CS for Japan, I believe I have a spare of the 1990 CS also, but as I ship all my bottles back to be stored at home I will have to double check the inventory when I get back to the US (maybe November). Let me know if you are interested and maybe we can work something out. In my humble opinion the 1990 CS is far superior.

You are correct that Japan is the biggest market in Asia for Scotch and if I recall correctly it is the 2nd largest Scotch consuming country in the world behind Germany(?) .

It is staggering to see how much the Japanese appreicate whisky. There are a great number of whisky bars here that have in excess of 300 bottles on their shelves that are available to drink, including some very rare ones such as Black Bowmore, Springbank West Highland 1966 24YO, SB Local Barleys..... and as whisky was intended, they drink them. Offered alot of opportunities for me to walk in and sample alot of different drams that I otherwise could not afford.

There are quite a few Japan only bottlings made. Off the top of my head I know the Ardbeg 10 YO CS, 1990 CS (although some were held back at the distillery), Sherry Cask No. 4700 and Springbank has also done quite a few (I believe the most). There are a few dumpy and pear shaped bottles that are in high demand by collectors now and a very odd Springbank Saxplayer that was made for Japanese businessmen to exchange as gifts (a plastic saxplayer that had a 350ml bottle of vintage springbank in it).

An interesting note (at least for me ) is if you watch ebay you will notice an absence of people from Japan who participate in the auctions. This is because: 1) It is illegal to ship alcohol out of Japan (although there are ways ), but there are a few buyers I know that are extremely active in purchasing off of ebay 2) Yahoo Auction Japan is very well established and entrenched in Japan as one of their primary means of selling and trading whisky, especially rare bottles. It is staggering how many bottles of whisky trade hands on this site even at $3K a pop.

Sorry about the long winded spiel. MrTattieHeid, let me know about the Ardbeg.

[Deactivated Member]

You are most kind to offer. PM to follow. If you want to sell it, and it's out of my price range, I'm sure others here will be interested.

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

Admiral the AVY for the committee was 5 years old. When the fans and among them many committee members started nagging about how the Ardbeg comes out under the Glenmorangie regime their first response was "You are lovely and dedicated but also crazy, the new Ardbeg is only 5 years old!"
But persistancy prevailed and Ardbeg launched the 5 year old for committee members only and cunningly named it "For Discussion". The committee members were delighted and Ardbeg launched the Very Young for the common people. It is 6 years old and on the back label you can read "Committee Aproved".

Greetings
kallaskander

[Spirit of Islay]

The Committee bottling was 6yo as well , the only difference was the distilling year , the Committee one was 1997 and the general release was 1998 .
Slainté
Gordon

[STella]

Does any one know where the 7 Year old Ardbeg Very Young is?

First Commitee only as made 97. Bottled 2003
General release Very Young 98 Bottled 2004
???????????????????????????98 Bottled 2005

Ardbeg made a big song and dance that they would release every year until 10. I, like a lot of you I am sure are trying to get a few of each year.

Any one know???


STella

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

no, I don´t know. But since the dancing and singing Ardbeg has been sold again. Who knows what the new owner has decreed on this policy? There is more prospective profit in letting the spirit mature to 10, 12 15 or 17 years. On the other hand the AVY 6 years is not exactly cheap either.
I was wondering, too would be about time to release a 2005 bottling, wouldn´t it?

Greetings
kallaskander

[robenim]

Just came googling around this very old post. Does anybody know if there's still a chance to get hold of this 10 CS?

[lohssanami]

Here are a few pics of the TEN CS bottled in 2003. I got these from an auction site, and it seems like they have sold between 165 Euro to 475 Euro in the last few years.



Front Label



Back Label

[lohssanami]

You'll just have to watch auctions for this one Robenim!

[robenim]

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out!

[enzot]

Of course we do now have an Ardbeg 10 Y.O cask strength...the Renaissance at 55.9 %.
Not as rare as the Japanese release but still a cracking dram.

Cheers
Enzo...

[robenim]

I really enjoy the Renaissance for drinking but I would like to add the 10YO CS to my collection... not to be opened soon...

[Reggaeblues]

...and not forgetting the venerable Oogie!

BTW if you want a translation of the back label it goes like this:

"Of arr Isray's whiskies ALDBEG stands arone as the most DERICATE and COMPREX: leveled by connoisseuls as something EXTLAOLDINALY...
...NON CHIRR-FIRTELED for MAXIMUM FRAVOUL.

On adding watel a ritter croudiness may stirr ocull which is PELFECTRY NATULAR."

Just in case you were wondering...

[shoganai]

...and not forgetting the venerable Oogie!

BTW if you want a translation of the back label it goes like this:

"Of arr Isray's whiskies ALDBEG stands arone as the most DERICATE and COMPREX: leveled by connoisseuls as something EXTLAOLDINALY...
...NON CHIRR-FIRTELED for MAXIMUM FRAVOUL.

On adding watel a ritter croudiness may stirr ocull which is PELFECTRY NATULAR."

Just in case you were wondering...

**spews whisky from nostrils onto CPU**

[robenim]

Is that the same text as on the 1990 CS?