Ardbeg Day, a traditional celebration of the classic peaty single malt, is held annually on the last Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt, Fèis Ìle. Marking 25 years of the Ardbeg Committee, this year’s festivities are on Sat., May 31. Releasing for that day is Ardbeg Smokiverse. This limited edition will be the Islay distillery’s first whisky made from a high-gravity mash, according to the company.
Ardbeg’s Whisky Creation Team began experimenting some years ago with the mashing process, in which malted barley is converted into fermentable sugars. One of their experiments involved reducing the amount of water used in the packed mash tun. This unconventional “high-gravity” mash magnified the intensity of flavor-active compounds known as acetate esters, the distillery says, leading to a fruitier, more tropical spirit.
Aged in bourbon casks, this Ardbeg whisky has layers of muscovado sugar, ripe barley and toasted sourdough bread, according to the distillery, leading into tropical fruits and sweet peat.
“The first whisky we have ever made with a high-gravity mash, Ardbeg Smokiverse takes our single malt’s classic peaty character to a new frontier of flavor,” says Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Ardbeg’s director of whisky creation. “By ramping up the density of our wort to new heights, we’ve drawn in fruitier, sweeter flavors from the deepest corners of the mash tun. Upon first sip, you can expect a vibrant burst of fruity, ester notes, rather like smoked bubble gum, along with aromas of barley. Then peaty notes collide with juicy, tropical fruits, before sinking into a rich depth of muscovado sugar.”
Inspired by this high-gravity mash, the Distillery will bring to life a space-inspired universe on Ardbeg Day. Committee Members and their smoky malt-loving friends can experience the Smokiverse: a place filled with cosmic games, space-themed cocktails, whisky tastings and smoky bites.
“We’re inviting whisky fans from all corners of the world to join us – both at the Distillery, the beating heart of the Smokiverse, and beyond – to celebrate Ardbeg Day,” says Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg Distillery visitor centre manager and Ardbeg committee chair. “We’re thrilled to share this whisky with smoky-malt lovers everywhere and send their tastebuds into overdrive with the release of this extraordinary new expression.”
Ardbeg Smokiverse will be available to buy in the U.S. at retailers beginning May 15, with a pre-sale launching on Reservebar.com in the days before. The suggested retail price is $124.99.
Ardbeg Committee members will be the first to receive the pre-sale link.
