Old Age Stated Ardbeg Rundown

Dustin and I rundown Ardbeg 25, 23,22,21 and new 19 year... Wonder how the new distillate compares? How good is the new 25 year? Think the 23 year is the best of the twenty-something series? Dustin and I give our thoughts.
This did not go the way we thought.

[@sammckenzie4979]

Mike and Dustin: what I loved about this review was not (just) the lineup but how you nailed down the differences in such detail. When watching reviews to help guide the trigger pull (not that I have access to these here in this case), nothing helps as much as side-by-sides - either bottles of a similar price point from different distilleries, a more expensive expression of the same distillery, or the same expression but different vintage or batch. Kudos and hope to see more SBS. Cheers

[@SippersSocialClub]

What a lineup! Great stuff boys!

[@runstreetwise]

I love these types of drink throughs as this gives better insight into not only the progression but best value between the expressions.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

These are a blast to do. I will note....sometimes if you do different distilleries against each other, sometimes the malts just conflict and you get a poor or overly favorable impression of one or the other. It's ideal with same distillery bottlings.

[@johanswe6890]

Really great video! Thanks 👍

[@Caviarhound]

My 25 is a standout! Funky cheese all day long. Creamy smoke. Just amazing!

[@djbeacon1942]

UFR!!! Great Job! CONGRATS!

[@jordonallison7886]

Found a 22 in a small hole in the wall yesterday for 600, talked him down to 500 and pulled the trigger. Looking forward to it. Great side by side review guys.

[@topshelfwhisky]

The 22 year keeps getting better with oxidation. Beautiful whisky. Cheers

[@JazznRealHipHop]

I found a 22 going for 550, haven’t pulled the trigger yet but I’m thinking I have to

[@DarkSalmonz]

Very cool rundown guys, cheers!

[@markdunnam2745]

Never had the 25. But I love the 23.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I enjoyed the whole range. The 23 gas the most sherry influence.

[@bongson691]

Hi Mike and Dustin As always I hope you are doing well, I really enjoyed the review today, I had to save for 2 months to get a bottle of the ardbeg 19 yr old, and I'm saving it for a special day, because as a disabled Vietnam veteran I just can't afford the good stuff, watching the video, I'm going to save my money and get a bottle of the dark cove I think, I'm glad you told us about the Drum because it was on my watch list to consider buying, but not now, I spent way over my budget when the ardbeg arrrrrrrbeg came to total wines in El paso, I drove 100 miles to get it, and I grabbed 2 and people behind me bought the rest, I'm halfway down the first bottle, and I love it, I'm going to save the other one for my wife to sell when I'm gone, by then it may be a $900.00 bottle, anyway thanks for your review of the ardbeg's age stated whiskey review, and cheers guy's on the great videos you put out !!

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Cheers buddy, we'll try and get a few more ardbeg reviews, but we've not be fan of late.

[@krishnar3493]

Drink in good health, sir.

[@keithpetersen560]

Great review on a great distillery.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks Keith!

[@LibationExploration]

great vid

[@globeman6400]

Super useful review

[@topshelfdustin3060]

cheers

[@topshelfwhisky]

These were not easy to collect and anyone looking to source one should know what they are getting.

[@royn8032]

Great video! Thinking of getting the 19 y/o for $160 from a friend

[@topshelfwhisky]

That’s a good price. What batch?

[@royn8032]

@Top Shelf Whisky I will have to find out! It is probably the most recent one

[@royn8032]

@@topshelfwhisky It is batch #3! Ia that good?

[@Nick-mg5xl]

Awesome content. i think id be tempted to go to the auctions and pick up a twenty something over this new 19 or new 25. been on my radar for a while, just havent done it. i am trying to buy less bottles but better ones these days...

[@topshelfwhisky]

New 25 is still the old distillate and that's the Ardbeg's I want... Old Ardbeg

[@Nick-mg5xl]

Top Shelf Whisky what turned me off from the 25 was the price. 22s go for less than 400 pounds at auction. I think the retail price for the 25 is over 1000 USD.

[@topshelfwhisky]

@@Nick-mg5xl The 22 is the one to buy then.

[@Houman7]

I’m not sure if I told you this or not but I have an uncle in LA who has an epic collection of single malts including few bottles of each of these so I tried all of them few times and my favorite is undoubtedly 22 but last time I visited my uncle we had this conversation that new 25 is not worth especially when he was comparing it to the old 25 Lord of the Isles, which is the best whisky from the islay I’ve tried that he told me with all of his experiences he thinks once you pass basic Ardbeg core range they’re not worth it at all anymore and I honestly think he’s absolutely right. Their core range is good enough that it’s really hard to justify paying for these expressions unlike brands like Glengoyne that you should spend good money to get a solid expression.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

I can't say I disagree, unless you get these for the prices mike paid...he got some of these roughly 50% off. That said I kinda want another 22. I'd also love to try the old 25 lord of the islays. Very lucky to have access to a collection like that.

[@Houman7]

@@topshelfdustin3060 for 50% off I would buy every one of these twice but that’s rare. There’s a store nearby me that still has 23 year old for just 999$! For that price it’s insanity to get something not exceptional.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@@Houman7 wow, all the stores by me cleared those out with sales a long time ago.

[@B.H90]

Ok, 22 it is! target list over the weekend! but all of these bottles r very $$$.LOL, how come the 21 bottle is taller vs. others?

[@topshelfwhisky]

The 21 was the “regular” Ardbeg bottle with the large dimple on the bottom. The 22/23 only have a small curve at the bottom allowing for more room. With the bottle circumference and made for a shorter one.

[@teddyballgame25]

Is the 22, the “Twenty Something”??

[@topshelfwhisky]

Yes it is. The 46.4% ABV

[@cimmet1371]

Bowmore 25 or bunnahabhain 25 (new bottle) ?

[@topshelfwhisky]

I haven’t tried the new Bunna 25 but I can’t imagine the Bowmore being better.

[@primewhisky]

Bunnahabhain 👍🏻😋

[@JazznRealHipHop]

Just found a dusty 22 for $550 at a store, sounds like I’d be a fool to pass on it

[@topshelfwhisky]

That’s a good deal. Let me know what you think if you decide to pick it up

[@topshelfwhisky]

Who has tried all of these?

[@primewhisky]

Tried them all, have the 19, 23, 25😋 23 and 25 stands out i think, 22 was a liiiittle dissapiontment for me. Considering 19 is half the price of 21 it is the best value. 23 is almost as good as 25 at almost half the price👍🏻

[@topshelfwhisky]

@@primewhisky no love for the 22 😳, that was my favorite twenty something.

[@primewhisky]

@@topshelfwhisky still like it a lot but my expectation was little to high and at the same price as the 23 I go for the 23😋👍🏻

[@topshelfdustin3060]

It's amazing how the 22 went from good but meh to the best arbeg in this lineup with a few years of the bottle being open.

[@primewhisky]

@@topshelfdustin3060 yeah, unfortunately I do not have the 22y:( so i can re-try it.