Now mixing very, very old Ardbeg with anything other than water (in this case 12 years old Glen Moray) might be considered a mortal sin. But as the men who make it are – believe it or not – mere mortals, mistakes can happen. Like many a sin before it, the result of this union was the birth of something unexpected but nevertheless very welcome. So they named it Serendipity…for surely it is a pity to waste it.

Besides, when you taste this fine malt, which blends Ardbeg’s robust peaty flavour with the lighter tones of Glen Moray, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was deliberate.

Keener noses might even suspect the presence of spirit from around the year that production at the distillery ceased