Ever wonder what the seaweed smelled like off the coast of Scotland in 1974? Probably not. But for whiskey aficionados, there is something magical about tasting what few others can. Starting this month, a smattering of rare vintage Ardbeg bottles -- one of the world's smokiest and peatiest from the isle of Islay -- have finally been made available for consumer consumption. The asking price: $20,000. That'll be some expensive sniffing.
The company has just made 50 cases available. Each contains two bottles (so it's really just $10,000 a pop) packaged in a hand-stitched leather rifle case with eight sterling silver cups, a hand-bound leather book for tasting notes, two bronze belt buckles and a fancy Omas pen.
The scotch has a yellow-orange color, a massively smoky nose (fans of Laphroaig and Lagavulin will approve) and a spicy-nutty flavor that evolves on the palate. It packs all of the iodine, salt and sea flavors that make Islay malts so delicious and distinct -- and trendy as of late. But it also evidences a hint of sweetness on the tip of the tongue; burnt caramel notes and delicate citrus in the finish. It's a great stocking stuffer, if you're a CEO or a lottery winner.
