First released over 25 years ago in 1997, 17 Years Old was one of the first bottles to leave the Distillery after reopening. Unusually delicate, yet unmistakably Ardbeg, this malt found a place in the hearts of the Committee, and set an extraordinary standard for the future of our whisky. Retired in 2004, Ardbeggians thought that was the last they’d see of 17. But, while times have been moving quietly on, its return has been years in the making.

A quarter of a century since he first created this magnificent recipe, Dr Bill Lumsden – Master Distiller - has meticulously crafted this release to mirror the original, retracing the flavour profile note by note, and choosing to bottle at 40% strength, just as it was back then. Distinctly balmy and medicinal, an enticing minerality bursts into sweet smoke and malted barley. Its peaty presence is undeniable, with hints of tar and oak. Bottled in honour of the folk who were there at the start, this was always a whisky destined to return in the end.

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: Fresh and clean, with hints of pine resin, aniseed, sea spray and lavender soap- very gentle, very restrained, and rather elegant for an Ardbeg. With water, there is a distinctive, flinty minerality, along with subtle hints of sweet peat smoke, malted barley, and a touch of toasting bread.

Taste: A beautiful, creamy texture is followed by a lovely combination of flavours, with aniseed toffee, café latte, fennel and gentle antiseptic soap. The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.

Finish: The peat smoke is present, but in a very restrained manner, and leads into a lingering aftertaste with chewy oak, cocoa powder and tar.

Ardbeg Anamorphic defies conventions with its experimental spirit, hailing from Islay's rugged shores. This limited edition release unveils layers of peat smoke, maritime brine, and a tantalizing hint of exotic fruits. Each sip is akin to an optical illusion, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, offering a captivating journey through the artistry of smoky Scotch whisky where tradition meets the avant-garde. This peated single malt delves into the intriguing process of removing cask heads during toasting, revealing more wood to enhance the experience. The result is a multidimensional dram that seamlessly merges sweet, smoky, herbal, and spicy elements for a mesmerizing taste. Ardbeg Anamorphic, bottled at 48.2% ABV, is set to hit stores in 2023, with an official announcement to come before the launch.

While the year 2000 will be remembered by many for bootcut jeans, flip phones and the elusive millennium bug, it went down in Ardbeg history for very different reasons. 

Following decades of neglect, the Distillery had been saved from extinction by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 and meticulously restored. As the clock ticked over from 1999 to 2000, Ardbeg was returning to full production. And while the rest of the world partied, with many distilleries shut down in fear of computerised chaos, its dedicated stillmen stayed up all night to keep the spirit flowing.  

Crafted with some of the very first spirit of the millennium, the inaugural edition in the Ardbeg Vintage Y2K series is unlike anything that came before. It was distilled in the historic still which served Ardbeg for 51 years, before being retired in 2001. And with an increased rigour applied to cask selection under the new ownership, the whisky was laid down in some of the finest bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks around. 

Committee Chair and Distillery Visitor Centre Manager Jackie Thomson said: “The turn of the millennium was a milestone for Ardbeg in so many ways – not least the formation of our Committee, the lifeblood of Ardbeg. With Y2K fashion and culture now back with a vengeance, we’re inviting Ardbeggians to turn back time to a remarkable year and enjoy the spirit of Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K.

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Pale Amber

AROMA: Herbal, sweet and fragrant, with a subtle, distant perfumed smokiness. Next a quirky, zesty note like lemon balsam emerges, along with a suggestion of linseed oil and candied walnuts. A splash of water and the fragrance intensifies, emitting heather honey, a touch of creosote and the tiniest trace of tent canvas.

TASTE: The texture is fizzy and effervescing (sherbety), with a real, vibrant effervescence on the tongue. At first the flavour is intensely sweet, then shifts as aniseed, toffee, digestive biscuits, peppermint, menthol, tar and coffee grits burst through.

FINISH: The sooty/tarry flavours keep building, until they finally dissolve into a long, lingering aftertaste of antiseptic lozenges, bitter oranges and oak tannins.

There’s an appetite for all things rare on Islay. Especially at Ardbeg. You’d think that the rare nature of our whisky would be enough, but it’s Islay and her oddities that really stir us.
The Ardbeg Anthology Collection is inspired by tales of unbelievable encounters – legendary brushes with the strangest creatures ever purported to stalk Islay.
Inspired by the seldom-seen Harpy – a winged beast said to inhabit Islay – this legendary edition is a first for the Distillery. The Harpy’s Tale has been matured for 13 years in rare Sauternes wine casks and married with classic Ardbeg ex-bourbon. After over a decade in the cask, soaring smoke swoops into sweetness as Ardbeg’s unmistakable character wrangles with the richness of the Sauternes casks. A supreme aged expression… the taste almost as sensational as the tale…

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: Very distinctively oily, with touches of extra virgin olive oil, sweet briar wood, aromatic herbs (coriander & sage) and a suggestion of smoked lemon peel. A splash of water releases more oiliness, like linseed oil, a gentle waxiness, and a burst of perfumed, aromatic carbolic soap, and finally, a whiff of crème brulee.

Taste: A soft, oily, mouthcoating texture leads into a rich, sweet, smoky palate, with hints of oak moss, treacle, aniseed lozenges and a lovely, sweet, woody/balsamic flavour. This is then followed by smoked apricots and eucalyptus oil.

Finish: Finally comes a lingering, sweet/smoky aftertaste, with a touch of cumin, cardamon and the merest hint of coconut.

Matured in a slightly higher proportion of Oloroso Sherry casks, this sublime 19 year old whisky is the epitome of an aged Ardbeg. Part of a highly sought-after and collectible Ardbeg series, Batch 4 is the latest expression. This sublime Traigh Bhan, like the bottles before it, inspired by Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach (pronounced tri-van). Ardbeg Traigh Bhan masterfully performs the impossible – balancing the lull and crescendo of its intense flavours. Bottled under a full moon, the tides have turned for this rare spirit as more mentholic, herbal notes rush the senses, with intense smoke left behind in its peaty wake.

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: On the nose, rising aromas of herbal pine and fennel flow into sharp notes of citrusy lime sorbet and medicinal lozenge, while eucalyptus and saddle soap follow on the breeze. A splash of water releases a cascade of hazelnut, sweet vanilla, and currants, before rich minted chocolate brings the nose to a close.

Taste: An intense wave of wood smoke crashes over the palate, leaving ripples of decadent dark chocolate and ground coffee in its wake. Sweeter notes of lemon curd and peanut brittle cut through the swell to reveal delicate hints of creamy raisin fudge and hazelnut. The allure of this rare dram continues with suggestions of more medicinal, spicy notes. Menthol, fresh lemongrass, aniseed, clove and white pepper emerge from rich, smoky depths.

Finish: Sweet and peat collide with creamy vanilla fudge, dark cocoa powder, and a warm, woody clove tingle. A sharp, intense, and satisfyingly long finish.

Hunt down a grill and gather your ancestors, because the Ardbeg BBQ Smoker is bringing the everyday cookout into a new age!

This gift pack includes one BBQ Smoker and one bottle of Ardbeg An Oa – the perfect spirit for sippin’ and tearin’. Small but mighty, the smoker lets you surround your food with smoke in just a few easy steps. Simply fill the puck with wood chips, lay it at the back of your grill, wait until your BBQ is sufficiently smoky, place your food around the puck, smoke it out some more, and voilà!

Once your food is smoked, cooked, and practically falling off the bone, all that’s left to do is plate up and pair with a delectably smooth dram of Ardbeg An Oa.

Color: Light Gold

Aroma: Rounded and smoky – like burning Applewood – with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates. A curious suggestion of juicy fruits, such as peach and banana. With a drop of water, reminders of Ardbeg’s classic fragrance – lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. A gentle waxiness, such as fragrant candle wax, and hints of smoked herbs. An Oa gives a final subtle reminder of the sea with briny notes and seaweed, accompanied by a delectable creaminess.

Tates: A smooth, creamy texture leads into a bold syrupy sweetness, flavours of milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves. Gentle, sweet spices (nutmeg & cinnamon), some cigar smoke, and a unique note of grilled artichokes. Wood is always present in the spirit, gently nutty and reminiscent of a carpenter’s workshop.

Finish: Lingering, seductive, gentle yet intense, with flavours of aniseed, hickory and subtle smoke.

ARDBEG AN OA

Ardbeg An Oa’s rounded and subtly smoky aromas make it the prime spirit for toasting by the BBQ. With notes of thick cigar smoke, roasted tea leaves and grilled artichokes, this whisky is the perfectly peaty dance partner for your smoky culinary creations.

OUT OF THE DARK… AND INTO THE LIGHT

Matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, this sublime 19 year old whisky is the epitome of an aged Ardbeg. Part of a highly sought-after and collectable Ardbeg series, 19 Years Old Batch 3 is the latest expression. This sublime third batch is, like the bottles before it, is inspired by Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach.
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan masterfully performs the impossible – balancing the lull and crescendo of its intense flavours. However, the story behind this rare aged liquid is what truly sets it apart…

A whisky resigned to the furthest reaches of the Ardbeg Warehouse, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 3 was one of the only spirits in the Distillery’s history to be bottled in the midst of a global lockdown. Having spent months on end behind closed doors, this unprecedented bottling is now ready to come out from the dark… and into the light.

Non chill-filtered at 46.2% ABV.

Product Description:

This item showcases the remarkable reputation of Ardbeg whisky, which has been hailed as "almost perfect" by whiskey connoisseurs. It is a globally revered whiskey that has received numerous prestigious awards in the past decade, including titles such as World Whisky of the Year, Scotch Whisky of the Year, and World's Best Single Malt.

These extraordinary giants of the whiskey realm have been spotted in glasses all over the world, delighting palates, overwhelming taste buds, and captivating senses wherever they are enjoyed.

Included in this set are three 200 ml bottles:

Ten Years Old: This expression is revered worldwide for being the most intensely peaty, smoky, and intricately flavored Single Malt. It offers a perfect balance of fruity and floral sweetness alongside complexity. Aged in ex-Bourbon American Oak casks, it exhibits a harmonious blend of sweet vanilla and robust spice. Ardbeg's flagship whisky, it embodies the finest qualities of Islay.

Wee Beastie: Ardbeg's newest permanent expression, and also their youngest, Wee Beastie undergoes maturation in a combination of Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks for a mere five years. The youthfulness of this whisky intensifies its smoky character, setting it apart from other Islay Malts. It delivers a rich and explosive mouthfeel with prominent notes of chocolate, tar, creosote, and smoked bacon, followed by a burst of antiseptic lozenges, eucalyptus, and aniseed.

An Oa: Drawing inspiration from the protective cliffs of the Mull of Oa, which shield the Ardbeg distillery from the untamed Atlantic Ocean, An Oa embraces a harmonious interplay of contrasting flavors. This expression combines the finest casks, achieving a balance between roundness and Ardbeg's signature intensity. The whiskies used in its creation are matured in Pedro Ximénez casks for sweetness, Virgin Charred Oak casks for spiciness, and ex-Bourbon American Oak casks for intensity. These distinct elements are skillfully brought together in the bespoke Gathering Vat, resulting in a complex and captivating whisky experience.

Ardbeg Ten Years Old is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt of them all. Yet it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of perfect balance.

Named World Whisky of the Year in 2008.

Non chill-filtered with a strength of 46% ABV. 

Colour: Light gold.

Aroma: A burst of intense smoky fruit escapes into the atmosphere – peat infused with zesty lemon and lime, wrapped in waxy dark chocolate.
Bold menthol and black pepper slice through the sweet smoke followed by tarry ropes and graphite. As you dip your nose in further, savour the aroma of smoked fish and crispy bacon alongside green bell peppers, baked pineapple and pear juice.
Add water and breathe in the vortex of aromas rising from the glass. An oceanic minerality brings a breath of cool, briny seaspray on chalky cliffs. Waxed lemon and lime follows with coal tar soap, beeswax and herby pine woodlands. Toasted vanilla and sizzling cinnamon simmer in the background with warm hazelnut and almond toffee.

Taste: An explosion of crackling peat sets off millions of flavour explosions on the tongue: peat effervesces with tangy lemon and lime juice, black pepper pops with sizzling cinnamon-spiced toffee. This is followed by a wave of brine infused with smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas and currants. Smoke gradually wells up on the palate bringing a mouthful of warm creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows. As the taste lengthens and deepens, dry espresso, liquorice root and tarry smoke develop coating the palate with chewy peat oils.

Finish: The finish goes on and on – long and smoky with tarry espresso, aniseed, toasted almonds and traces of soft barley and fresh pear.

Bottled from incredibly rare casks filled during some of the Distillery’s darkest days, this is Ardbeg at its most intricate, balanced and beguiling. Majestic aromas of smoked cream and earthy bonfires are masterfully interwoven with layers of pine and fragrant candle wax. Hot pepper rises on the palate, twisting around lemon sherbet sweetness, while hints of carbolic soap and tar flow into a long aftertaste characterised by delicate aniseed entwined with lingering cream and fudge.

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Bright Amber

AROMA: A pungent burst of smoked cream, peppermint and toffee, with Ardbeg’s classic fennel and pine resin. Distant earthy bonfires mix with herbal and fruity (banana and tropical) notes, along with fragrant candle wax.

TASTE: An extremely vibrant, hot peppery mouthfeel leads into a burst of sherbet lemon sweetness (candied apples, pears and orange), hints of carbolic soap and tar, more creamy toffee, aniseed and chilli pepper.

FINISH: A long, mellow, lingering aftertaste, with lots of cream, fudge and delicate antiseptic notes. An elegant, soothing style of Ardbeg.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan takes its name from the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay, where only the bravest souls dare to venture. Swirling aromas and torrents of deep, peaty, peppery taste lurk beneath the surface of this beautifully balanced dram. Like the whirlpool itself, Corryvreckan is not for the faint-hearted! Awarded The World’s Best Single Malt in 2010 by the World Whiskies Awards.

Non chill-filtered at 57.1% ABV

Color: Rich Amber. 

Aroma: Heady, intense and powerful. Swirl the glass and dip your nose into the torrents of tarry ropes, creosote and linseed oil rising from deep within the vortex. A collision of waxy dark chocolate, warm blackcurrants and muscovado sugar pulls you under its spell with a burst of plump cherries and earthy pine needles leaping from its depths. From salty seasoning comes a briny character with tangy crisp seaweed and smoky bacon swirling on the surface with hints of sweet vanilla, spicy cloves and blueberries. Surrender to its dangerous depths with the heady force of menthol, treacle and chilli sauce.

Taste: Plunge into the whirlpool and torrents of taste well up on the palate; deep, peppery and chewy, bombarding the tongue. The first plunge brings forth chewy peppered steak soaked in pepper sauce with the tang of crispy seaweed. As you descend deeper, encounter a mouthful of black tarry espresso coffee that coats the palate with rich melted dark fruits (blackcurrants, blueberries and cherries) and bitter almonds. As the taste soaks in deeper, star anise and hickory dry out the palate before a surprise of chalky effervescent violets fizz to the surface.

Finish: Long, deep and remaining powerful into the finish with black tarry coffee, chocolate coated cherries and hot pepper sauce, the lingering memories of your mysterious and daring journey into Corryvreckan.

Pronounced ‘Oog-a-dal’, it’s a special vatting that marries Ardbeg’s traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks. Ardbeg Uigeadail was voted by the 120,000+ strong Ardbeg Committee as their favourite Ardbeg.

Non chill-filtered at 54.2% ABV.

Colour: Deepest gold.

Aroma: Rich and weighty with heady and smoky aromatics, this expression of Ardbeg is both intensely flavoured and perfectly integrated. At full strength, the initial aroma is a beguiling mix of warm Christmas cake, walnut oil and parma violets fused with fresh ocean spice, cedar and pine needles falling from the Christmas tree. A smouldering smoky coal fire and the deep scent of well-oiled leather brings warmth to the scene. The sweetness of treacle toffees and chocolate-coated raisins bring indulgence through the smoke. With water, the deep smokiness increases in intensity, reminiscent of a Christmas pudding on fire. Tarry smoke and diesel engine oil enter the room bringing smells of an age gone by. Rich flowering currants and warm baked banana and walnut bread are served with simmering mocha espresso.

Taste: Full-flavoured and rich with a deep mouth-coating texture, the taste is an intriguing balance between sweet, spicy and deep smoky flavours. The flavour is initially sweet as Christmas cake begins to soak into the tongue. A burst of winter spices sets off a smoky-spicy explosion countered by a sumptuous mid-palate of honey glazed smoked food and chewy treacle. Waves of deep smoky tones and rich aromas build up on the palate like a fine Montecristo cigar.

Finish: Amazingly long and chewy with lingering raisiny, deep mocha tones and rich aromatic smoke into the perfectly integrated finish.

A welcome new addition to the Ultimate range. Ardbeg An Oa is singularly rounded, due in no small part to time spent in our newly established bespoke oak Gathering Vat where whiskies from several cask types - including; sweet Pedro Ximenez; spicy virgin charred oak; and intense ex-bourbon casks, amongst others - familiarise themselves with each other. The result is a dram with smoky power, mellowed by a delectable, smooth sweetness. Hallmark Ardbeg peat, dark chocolate and aniseed are wrapped in smooth, silky butterscotch, black pepper and clove, before rising to an intense crescendo of flavour.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rounded and smoky - like burning Applewood - with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates. A curious suggestion of juicy fruits, such as peach and banana. With a drop of water, reminders of Ardbeg’s classic fragrance – lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. A gentle waxiness, like fragrant candle wax, and hints of smoked herbs. An Oa gives a final subtle reminder of the sea with briny notes and seaweed but always accompanied with creaminess.

Taste: A smooth, creamy texture leads into a huge syrupy sweetness, flavours of milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves. Gentle, sweet spices (nutmeg & cinnamon), some cigar smoke, and a very unusual flavour of grilled artichokes. Wood is always present in the spirit, gently nutty and reminiscent of a carpenter’s workshop. A long, sweet finish, with floral overtones, mint toffee and some gentle malty biscuit notes.

Finish: Lingering, seductive, gentle yet intense, with flavours of aniseed, hickory and distant subtle smoke.

Color: Light Gold

IT’S A MONSTER OF A DRAM

Ardbeg Wee Beastie is the latest permanent expression to join the Distillery’s Ultimate Range. At just five years old, Wee Beastie is a feisty young creature with a formidable taste.

SOMETHING BIG AND SMOKY…

Our whisky creators set out to make the rawest, smokiest Ardbeg ever. The result is Ardbeg Wee Beastie and this tongue-tingling, beautifully smoky dram is the youngest Ardbeg we’ve ever made.

On the snout, intense aromas of cracked blacked pepper mingle with sappy pine resin and a sharp tang of smoke. Suddenly, an explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. Savoury meats sink into the palate before the long salty mouthcoating finish slinks away… revealing the inner beast of this Islay icon.

Young and intensely smoky, this is a dram untamed by age. Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Wee Beastie is perfect for enjoying neat or as the mouth-watering main ingredient in a powerfully smoky cocktail.

Non chill-filtered at 47.4%.

Color: A glint of bright Gold (Auric)

Aroma: The first sniff alerts you to a nearby presence… heightened senses are filled with very bright, fresh herbal notes, with creeping hints of vanilla and pear. Rich Turkish coffee mingles with sappy pine resin, with honey-glazed ham lurking in the background. With water, more herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel captivate and pull you in, while beguiling scents of aniseed, green apple and leather cause you to drop your guard. Out of nowhere, a sharp tang of smoke and a crack of fresh black pepper fire warning shots across the senses.

Taste: Suddenly, a rich, explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. A powerful blast of eucalyptus thrashes about with antiseptic lozenges and aniseed. The raw, smoky intensity gathers pace, before smoked bacon and savoury meats sink into the palate.

Finish: The long, salty mouthcoating finish retreats, with hints of cocoa and fudge slinking slowly away.

THE TIDES HAVE TURNED

Matured in a slightly higher proportion of Oloroso Sherry casks, this sublime 19 year old whisky is the epitome of an aged Ardbeg. Part of a highly sought-after and collectable Ardbeg series, Batch 4 is the latest expression. This sublime Traigh Bhan, like the bottles before it, inspired by Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach (pronounced tri-van).

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan masterfully performs the impossible – balancing the lull and crescendo of its intense flavours. Bottled under a full moon, the tides have turned for this rare spirit as more mentholic, herbal notes rush the senses, with intense smoke left behind in its peaty wake.

If you’re an Ardbeg Committee Member and you want to ensure easy ordering of this rare Ardbeg, please check your Committee account has registered phone numbers in both the Billing and Delivery sections.

Experience the extraordinary consequence of Ardbeg's legendary purifier mysteriously vanishing from the still. In its absence, emerges the captivating and untamed Ardbeg Heavy Vapours, a whisky that defies convention.

Prepare to be enchanted as the familiar harmony between peat and floral fruitiness gives way to an intriguing disruption. Untamed darker flavors and alluring notes converge, enticing your senses and leading you on a thrilling tasting journey.

Indulge in this ominous dram, boasting dramatic, aromatic pungency like never before. As the Heavy Vapours rise, you'll find yourself captivated by the extraordinary balance of power and complexity.

Savor every moment as Ardbeg Heavy Vapours takes you on an adventure through bold and untamed flavor profiles. Are you ready to embrace the enigmatic allure of this exceptional whisky? Elevate your tasting experience with Ardbeg Heavy Vapours today! 

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: SMOKE rises with a cloying sweetness. Intense, pungent and aromatic, a distinctive farmyard scent drifts, along with a crunchy aroma, like CREOSOTE or tarry rope. A splash of water disturbs the vapours and DARK CHOCOLATE CREAM billows, laced with a ribbon of SMOKED ARTICHOKE.

Taste: Ardbeg’s UNTAMED darker flavours and notes have risen. A burst of bittersweetness SURGES, disturbing ashy coal DUST and casting a HAZE of CARDAMOM, peppermint and COFFEE grits. CLOUDS OF dark chocolate and mentholic eucalyptus ROLL IN, OBSCURING the fruit and floral notes usually found at the heart of ARDBEG. Wisps of ANISEED twists, CINNAMON balls and antiseptic lozenges FLOAT on the palate.

Finish: The aftertaste lingers LONG and BOLD, with an almost anaesthetising sensation.

Held annually on the final Saturday of The Islay Festival (Fèis Ìle), Ardbeg Day is a global celebration of all things Ardbeg. Celebrated on Islay and around the world, Ardbeg Day has become one of the biggest events in the whisky calendar. This year, come 1st June, the Ardbeg circus is rolling into town in honour of the Distillery’s latest Limited Edition – Ardbeg Spectacular.

Inspired by this whisky’s deep and peculiar extravaganza of flavours, Ardbeg is inviting fans to don their finest dark circus attire and delve into the offbeat and delicious world of Ardbeg Spectacular.

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Sunset Orange

AROMA: Curiously perfumed and aromatic, a big top note of fragrant lavender tumbles into vetiver and incense candles. Down below, deeper notes of leather and wax dance alongside a rich almond nuttiness. A splash of water reveals gentle wisps of woodsmoke and damp peat moss. Hints of menthol hurl headlong into rich antique leather.

TASTE: A viscous mouthfeel bursts forth to introduce a sparkling array of salty, sweet, and savoury flavours. Peat smoke, eucalyptus oil, minty chocolate and toffee mingle with smoked pecans, creosote, and tar. Subtle sweet pear crumble and fudge lurk in the background.

FINISH: Finally, a long and lingering finale of salted caramel and cooling menthol brings this showstopping spectacle of flavour to a close.

Maker Notes

Something weird has been going down at the Distillery.  The legendary purifier on the still – responsible for Ardbeg’s exalted balance – is nowhere to be seen. And this whisky – Ardbeg Heavy Vapours – is the consequence. The familiar harmony between peat and floral fruitiness has been disrupted. What have risen are the untamed darker flavours and notes, gathering and filling the senses. It is an ominous dram of dramatic, aromatic pungency. Heavy Vapours will rise.

TASTING NOTES

COLOR: Pale straw

NOSE: SMOKE rises with a cloying sweetness. Intense, pungent and aromatic, a distinctive farmyard scent drifts, along with a crunchy aroma, like CREOSOTE or tarry rope. A splash of water disturbs the vapours and DARK CHOCOLATE CREAM billows, laced with a ribbon of SMOKED ARTICHOKE.

TASTE: Ardbeg’s UNTAMED darker flavours and notes have risen. A burst of bittersweetness SURGES, disturbing ashy coal DUST and casting a HAZE of CARDAMOM, peppermint and COFFEE grits. CLOUDS OF dark chocolate and mentholic eucalyptus ROLL IN, OBSCURING the fruit and floral notes usually found at the heart of ARDBEG. Wisps of ANISEED twists, CINNAMON balls and antiseptic lozenges FLOAT on the palate.

FINISH: The aftertaste lingers LONG and BOLD, with an almost anaesthetising sensation.

You start with a hare-brained idea, you bring together three unique casks, two masters in their own right, and a whole lot of heat and smoke… what do you get? You get the Distillery’s first ever barbecue-inspired whisky – Ardbeg BizarreBQ. Cooked up by renowned Master Distiller, Dr Bill Lumsden, alongside bona-fide god of the grill, Christian Stevenson (AKA DJ BBQ), this mouth-watering malt packs a meaty, peaty punch.

The same way it is with grilling, there’s one vital element in creating our first BBQ-inspired malt – fire. Toasting a selection of three casks, double charred oak casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and BBQ casks, this combined recipe comes together to bring a sweet, tangy, smoky flavour… perfect for BBQ!

Non-chill filtered.

Aroma

Puffs of charcoal and soot mingle with smoky wood and aromatic herbs and spices. Treacle toffee, hickory smoked ham and cinnamon-dusted espresso rise up. A splash of water releases distinctively sharp citrus aromas, along with herbal notes such as fennel and aniseed. Grilled artichokes and a suggestion of seared meat sizzles the senses. The undeniable smell of bonfire and BBQ embers lingers in the background.

Taste

The mouthfeel is alive with spice, like BBQ ribs smothered in chilli. A myriad of deep, warming smoke follows close behind in flame-grilled steak, chilli oil, cured leather and clove. Ginger, aniseed and tar crackle on the palate with an aromatic woodsmoke edge.

Finish

The massive, hot aftertaste lingers on and on, with more grilled artichoke, black olives and a sooty note that slowly simmers away.

Matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, this sublime 19 year old whisky is the epitome of an aged Ardbeg. Part of a highly sought-after and collectable Ardbeg series, 19 Years Old Batch 3 is the latest expression. This sublime third batch is, like the bottles before it, is inspired by Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach.

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan masterfully performs the impossible – balancing the lull and crescendo of its intense flavours. However, the story behind this rare aged liquid is what truly sets it apart…

A whisky resigned to the furthest reaches of the Ardbeg Warehouse, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 3 was one of the only spirits in the Distillery’s history to be bottled in the midst of a global lockdown. Having spent months on end behind closed doors, this unprecedented bottling is now ready to come out from the dark… and into the light.

Non chill-filtered at 46.2% ABV.

Color: Rose Gold.

Nose: In this whisky, faint waves of scented woodsmoke mingle with sea spray and pine resin. Wisps of aniseed toffee and sweet lilies follow on the breeze while fresh citrus zest laps over notes of cayenne pepper. With a splash of water, waxy notes and charcoal flow into droplets of classic Sherry and linseed oil.

Palete: A rush of rich, sappy textures is followed moments later by classic sweet smokiness. Tarry rope and treacle toffee plunge the palate into a second wave of soot and aniseed twists. Smoke bobs on the horizon, while smoked brown sugar, walnuts and spices gently dissolve away.

Finish: A long, unhurried finish carries bitter almonds and clove in its wake, before slowly drifting away.