Ardbeg 11 Years Old 2002 (SMWS 33.130, The Farmyard and the Chip Shop)

An SMWS Ardbeg from the 2002 distillation cohort, released at code 33.130 in 2013. The Society's house style of quirky multi word tasting note titles places this release alongside others in the Ardbeg run with names like 'A body slam from Big Daddy' and 'You Would Not Believe!'. SMWS founder Pip Hills launched the programme in 1983 with the philosophy that whisky reviewing should be sensorially evocative rather than technically descriptive.

Filled into refill American oak cask in 2002 during the stable modern Glenmorangie era at Ardbeg. Matured on Islay for eleven years across the 2004 LVMH purchase and into the modern era. Bottled in 2013 at 56.1% ABV, non chill filtered with no added colour. The 56.1% reading at eleven years sits in typical range for refill bourbon maturation in the maritime warehouse cycle.

Eleven years of refill American oak interaction builds early mid age expression. Cis and trans oak lactones (coconut, oiled wood) build at moderate concentration, lignin vanillin and syringaldehyde contribute emerging vanilla and baking spice, and hemicellulose furans add background caramel. The modern Glenmorangie spec peat phenols (guaiacol, syringol, 4 methylguaiacol, p cresol) read at near peak concentrated intensity at this young age. The Ardbeg purifier ester signature delivers pineapple, lemon and tropical fruit at peak expression.