Ardbeg Distillery Celebrates Ardeg Day With New Whisky Launch
Ardbeg Distillery is releasing a whisky aged in Port wine barrels in celebration of Ardbeg Day on June 1. Named Ardbeg Spectacular, the whisky is aged with Port wine barrels, which have been described as ‘bringing a tumbling richness and acrobatic twist of color to the malt’.
This year, Ardbeg Day will feature a ‘dark circus’ at its distillery, describing it as an ‘offbeat and smoky take on the circus’, as well as tastings and games.
On the nose, Ardbeg Spectacular delivers candied fruit, incense candles, and smoked pecans, while the palate offers dark chocolate and mint, and the finish is lingering with salted caramel and cooling menthol.
Ardbeg Distillery Celebrates Ardeg Day With New Whisky Launch
Master blender Gillian Macdonald expanded on this: “Ardbeg Spectacular is a high-flying spirit, very befitting of Ardbeg Day. Its years in Bourbon and Port casks create a spectacle of flavors, the likes of which Ardbeggians will never have tasted before.
“We invite fans to roll up and feast their palates on its peculiar notes of mint chocolate, incense, lavender, and smoked nuts, set off by a daring double act of salted caramel and tar. Like the finest performances in the circus ring, this is a whisky not to be missed.”
This year’s Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt takes place from Saturday 25 May to Saturday 1 June. Ardbeg Day falls on the festival’s final Saturday. Last year, the brand launched a single malt called Heavy Vapours.
Distillery visitor centre manager, Jackie Thomson, added: “This Ardbeg Day we will celebrate our whisky in the most spectacular style – from this new limited edition to our core range favourites like our 10 Year Old.
“I’m looking forward to entering into the spirit of the circus with fans at the distillery, online, and across the globe on 1st June, as we come together to juggle big, bold smoky flavors and marvel at the phenolic phenomenon that is Ardbeg.”
LVMH will also spend millions on transforming the distillery’s Islay Hotel, which will reopen in May 2025 as a world-class whisky experience and hotel.