Ardbeg Spectacular - Ardbeg Day 2024 Release

For Ardbeg Day 2024, Ardbeg Distillery presents the new limited release Ardbeg Spectacular - a breathtaking spectacle of flavors.

For the first time in the distillery's history, this malt has been aged in port casks and then in classic bourbon casks. The result is an extraordinarily smoky, balanced Ardbeg whisky that brings out all sorts of nuanced aromas. The meeting of devilish sweetness and smoky peat, a true spectacle.

Official tasting note by Dr. Bill Lumsden (Head of Distilling at The Glenmorangie Group)

Nose

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. This is a helter skelter of flavours! Totally weird and absolutely spectacular. This is a freaky whisky!

Ardbeg Distillery

Ardbeg Distillery is located on the south coast of the island of Islay, famous for its rich whisky tradition. Founded in 1815 by the MacDougall family, Ardbeg has a turbulent history with several closures and re-openings, but has become one of the most highly regarded Islay distilleries.

A distinctive feature of Ardbeg Distillery is its strong peat influence, resulting in whiskies with an intense smokiness and maritime character. The distillery uses traditionally handmade copper pot stills and local peat from the surrounding peat fields, which gives the whiskies their distinctive aromas of smoke, sea salt, and tar, combined with hints of citrus and vanilla.

Ardbeg whiskies are mainly matured in ex-bourbon casks, which ensures a deep and complex flavour. The distillery is also known for its innovative approach, with experimentation in different cask types and maturation processes producing unique and award-winning expressions.

The combination of traditional production methods, an iconic location and an unmistakable flavour profile makes Ardbeg a leading name in the world of Scotch whisky.