Ardbeg
Smokiverse
- 48.3
- 70cl
- Taste: 4
- Islay
The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815. However, there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie...
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The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815. However, there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie Company who, after updating the distillery, fully reopened it the following year. Moet Hennessy brought the whole company in 2004. They built a new still house in 2019, which is now running to capacity of 2.1 million litres of alcohol per year.
Created using high gravity mashing, Ardbeg Smokiverse has been released to celebrate Ardbeg Day 2025. This experiment is a first for the distillery. It involves using more grist and less water during the mashing stage, produceing a more concentrated wort. This leads to a higher sugar content, known as 'original gravity', resulting in a much fruiter expression.
Official Tasting Notes
Colour - Bright Gold.
Aroma - An explosion of fruity, estery notes, reminiscent of smoked bubblegum, fuse with whiffs of ripening barley and toasted sourdough bread. A splash of water reveals dense, sweet, and aromatic peat smoke, accompanied by gently smoked tropical fruits.
Taste - A rich, creamy mouthfeel drifts into sharp, sooty and spicy notes of creosote, aniseed, and clove. Tempered by the distinct sweetness of muscovado sugar, robust woody notes orbit rich charcoal.
Finish - Finally, in an almost infinite finish, earthy peat moss fuses with sizzling bonfire embers.
Limited to 2 bottles per customer.
Created using high gravity mashing, Ardbeg Smokiverse has been released to celebrate Ardbeg Day 2025. This experiment is a first for the distillery. It involves using more grist and less water during the mashing stage, produceing a more concentrated wort. This leads to a higher sugar content, known as 'original gravity', resulting in a much fruiter expression.
Official Tasting Notes
Colour - Bright Gold.
Aroma - An explosion of fruity, estery notes, reminiscent of smoked bubblegum, fuse with whiffs of ripening barley and toasted sourdough bread. A splash of water reveals dense, sweet, and aromatic peat smoke, accompanied by gently smoked tropical fruits.
Taste - A rich, creamy mouthfeel drifts into sharp, sooty and spicy notes of creosote, aniseed, and clove. Tempered by the distinct sweetness of muscovado sugar, robust woody notes orbit rich charcoal.
Finish - Finally, in an almost infinite finish, earthy peat moss fuses with sizzling bonfire embers.
Limited to 2 bottles per customer.
Tasting Rating Guide
1: Light, good for beginners - an aperitif on a summers day, i.e. Glengoyne, Auchentoshan
2: Also good for beginners but with more depth and body - a little stronger than 1, ie. Glenmorangie, Speyburn
3: A dram for everyone, a little more complex so the palate requires a little more experience, i.e. Cragganmore, Macallan
4: A stronger spirit, a big whisky with lots of character and body, excellent after dinner, i.e. Lagavulin, Laphroaig