Increasingly rare, now sadly discontinued, the Ardbeg 17 Year Old Whisky. Incredibly rich and powerful, and all too easy to drink. Last one left and some damage to the box. Nose: The gentlest of peats, yet deep and confident with an enticing sweetness a heady mixture of malts and vanillins. Vaguely salty and very complex with the oak present but very much in harness. Just a hint of bourbon and an even fainter hint of tangy orange to widen the spectrum. Palate: There is a much greater presence of peat in the taste than the nose suggests. The smokiness quickly hits the palate and then tapers off. That said, the middle shows an excellent chewy malt along side a touch of cocoa. Finish: The peat returns and guarantees an enormously long finale. The taste of the malt clings on and hints of liquorice and dry toast are detected. This form of oakiness continues but never becomes sappy or too dry as the peat balances this out beautifully.