Ardbeg 1976 Manager's Choice / Sherry Cask #2391 Islay Whisky

Oscar Delgado — Incredible but maybe overhyped

7/10

Look, it's a fantastic whisky, no question. Rich sherry notes, beautiful aged peat, long finish. But at nine grand a bottle I expected it to change my life and it didn't quite get there. I've had Ardbegs from the 90s at a fraction of the price that came surprisingly close.

Gianluca Ferro — Incredible but maybe overhyped

7/10

Look, it's a fantastic whisky, no question. Rich sherry notes, beautiful aged peat, long finish. But at nine grand a bottle I expected it to change my life and it didn't quite get there. I've had Ardbegs from the 90s at a fraction of the price that came surprisingly close.

Natasha Volkov — A time capsule in a glass

8/10

Had a dram at a friend's 50th and I'm still thinking about it weeks later. The sherry from cask 2391 gives it this incredible Christmas cake richness, but the old-style Ardbeg peat is still right there underneath. Drank it neat obviously — you don't add water to something like this.

Clara Johansson — A time capsule in a glass

8/10

Had a dram at a friend's 50th and I'm still thinking about it weeks later. The sherry from cask 2391 gives it this incredible Christmas cake richness, but the old-style Ardbeg peat is still right there underneath. Drank it neat obviously — you don't add water to something like this.

Diana Cruz — Proper old-school Islay

8/10

This is what Ardbeg tasted like before they got trendy. The peat is softer and more integrated than modern bottlings, and the sherry cask has done wonderful things over the decades. Raisins, tar, dark honey, a whiff of iodine on the finish. Tried it neat at 56% and it handled it gracefully for its strength.

Maxwell Green — Stunning but hard to justify

7/10

A generous friend poured me a measure and I savoured every second of it. The complexity is genuinely next level — layers of dried fruit, old smoke, and something almost meaty. But I keep coming back to the £9000 price tag. As a pure drinking experience I'd give it a 9, but value has to factor in somewhere for me.

Tyler Bennet — The nose alone is worth the experience

9/10

I only got to try 15ml of this at a whisky festival but the nose was something else entirely. Old leather, pipe tobacco, stewed plums, and this gentle coastal smoke that just kept evolving for twenty minutes. At cask strength 56% it opens up beautifully with a few drops of water. One of maybe three whiskies that genuinely made me emotional.

Olivia Park — Worth every penny of the remortgage

9/10

I was lucky enough to try this at a tasting event last year and it absolutely floored me. The sherry cask influence is massive — dried figs, dark chocolate, and that unmistakable Ardbeg peat smoke weaving through everything. At 56% ABV it's a beast but doesn't need water, just time in the glass. Yes it's £9000 but for a 1976 single cask Ardbeg, that's actually not outrageous.

Luna Chavez — Worth every penny of the remortgage

9/10

I was lucky enough to try this at a tasting event last year and it absolutely floored me. The sherry cask influence is massive — dried figs, dark chocolate, and that unmistakable Ardbeg peat smoke weaving through everything. At 56% ABV it's a beast but doesn't need water, just time in the glass. Yes it's £9000 but for a 1976 single cask Ardbeg, that's actually not outrageous.

Priya Sharma — Worth every penny of the remortgage

9/10

I was lucky enough to try this at a tasting event last year and it absolutely floored me. The sherry cask influence is massive — dried figs, dark chocolate, and that unmistakable Ardbeg peat smoke weaving through everything. At 56% ABV it's a beast but doesn't need water, just time in the glass. Yes it's £9000 but for a 1976 single cask Ardbeg, that's actually not outrageous.