Home Tasting: Ardbeg 1981 Official Kildalton Mini Bottle

The last bottle of the mini set—better open it now! Ardbeg ARDBEG 1981-2005 OB KILDALTON 52.6% ・Aroma: Cold nuances at first impression, sharp metallic notes and chlorine, lemon without prickliness, banana, vanilla, a strong malty scent like bread dough, ginger tea, white flowers or slightly dried hay, oil, and peat feels faint. ・Flavor: Gradual stimulation, strong metallic and chlorine notes, lemon, sweet-sour apricot, savory malty, vanilla, earthy root vegetable soiliness, sweetness is honey-like but not strong and slightly dry, ginger tea, oak, later notes of charcoal-like peat and oil without harshness. ・Aftertaste: Metallic notes and earthiness, oil with peat lingers long. ・Overall Review: Clearly milder peat for Ardbeg, but the house style of metallic and chlorine notes felt straightforward. The strong malty umami was impressive despite the light peat. [Good/Very Good, Interesting] This is Ardbeg's official Kildalton 1981. Kildalton was released as non-peaty, just before Ardbeg's temporary closure. There are full-size bottles from 1980-2004, but this is 1981-2005, one of four bottles in the mini set titled 'THE STORY OF PEAT AND ISLAY MALT.' I believe Kildalton 1981 was only available in this mini bottle. It's strange that there is a 1981 vintage, as production was supposedly completely halted until distillation resumed in 1989. Perhaps it was the last batch made. Regarding the content, despite being non-peaty, it still has a noticeable peatiness. However, clearly lighter than regular Ardbeg. Similar to the 1980 vintage full-size bottle (with similar aroma), this bottle clearly showcases Ardbeg's style beyond peat. If asked if it's exceptionally delicious, personally I'd say no, but it's a very interesting bottle. I bought three sets during a sale period, but drank them before fully appreciating the flavor. This was the last bottle. Though it's a mini bottle, opening it required courage. However, having the chance to consecutively drink Kildalton—this one and the current distillery-limited Kildalton 1980-2005 from Keith at Echigo—made me decide to open it now. I'm glad I could properly taste the last bottle. Though I can't buy more, I have no regrets. By the way, this is part of a mini bottle set. The four bottles were 10 years, 17 years, Uigeadail, and this Kildalton 1981.