Ardbeg Committee Reserve 2002

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. Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era of oversupply when interest in blended Scotch was waning, resulting in the distillery closing down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997.

Released strictly for the Ardbeg Committee in 2002, this was a non-age statement whisky made up whiskies from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Officially launched in January 2000, the Ardbeg Committee is a fan club that is loosely tasked with safeguarding the distillery from a return to the darker days of the previous century. Open to anyone to register, the club has access to exclusive releases like this one, which are never made available to the general public. Membership also grants access to a private room at the distillery, and members are asked to adhere to a somewhat tongue-in-cheek set of Committee rules, one of which warns of grave consequences for those who mix their Ardbeg with anything other than water.

One of 3,000 bottles.