Ardbeg spreads ‘Peat & Love’ to launch The Magical Whisky Tour 2018
Ardbeg Day Saturday 2nd June 2018
#peatandlove

This year’s Ardbeg Day celebrations will take Ardbeggians and whisky-lovers alike back in time for a celebration of all things ‘Peat & Love’.

Following the announcement in March of Ardbeg Day 2018’s groovy 1960’s theme and the release of Ardbeg Grooves, the untamed spirit of Islay is revealing a summer of ‘Peat & Love’ gatherings across the UK at whisky hotspots and music festivals: ‘The Magical Whisky Tour 2018’

Inspired by the alternative lifestyle and unorthodox spirit of a previous generation, Ardbeg Grooves has been matured in ex-wine casks which have been intensely charred to form heavy grooves in the surface of the wood. The result is a whisky aromatic with smoked spices, distant bonfires and chilli-seasoned meats.

On Saturday, 2nd June 2018, the Islay distillery will be rolling back the years to the Ardbeg Village of the late 1960s, opening its doors to whisky-lovers from around the globe. For those unable to make it to Islay to celebrate during Feis Ile, Islay’s untamed spirit will be hosting a live online tasting from Hard to Find Whisky in Birmingham, inviting peat lovers to join in the festivities. Ardbeg Embassies around the UK will be taking part in the peaty online tasting, including:

– Vintage House/ The Soho Whisky Club in London
– The Wee Dram in Bakewell, The Peak District
– Luvians in Cupar, Scotland
– Gordon & MacPhail in Elgin, Scotland
– Royal Mile Whiskies, Edinburgh

Ardbeg Day will also mark the launch of The Magical Whisky Tour, with Ardbeg’s own 1960s inspired VW van touring the country and making stops at a number of leading music festivals, bars and Ardbeg Embassies, serving smoky drams to the masses, spreading a taste of Islay’s ‘Peat & Love’ and good vibes along the way. Festival go-ers will have the chance to immerse themselves in the world of Ardbeg through interactive tastings and VR experiences.

The Magical Whisky Tour will comprise the following stops:

Festivals…
– Euroica Brittania: 15th – 17th June, Derbyshire
– Love Supreme: 29th June – 1st July, Lewes
– Blue Dot Festival: 20th – 22nd July, Macclesfield
– Kendall Calling: 26th – 29th July, Cumbria

Plus a number of Ardbeg Embassies and bars over June and July (visit: www.ardbeg.com for the full details).

Distillery Manager Mickey Heads said: “The Ardbeg Village of the 1960s was a very different place – a groovy wee community, with its own post office, billiards hall, two choirs and even a football team. These days the Ardbeg community is a worldwide one, and Ardbeg Day is the best way for us all to come together and raise a dram to the ultimate Islay single malt.”

The Ardbeg Day release of Ardbeg Grooves goes on sale on 2nd June and is available from Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialist retailers and the Distillery, RRP £98.

For more information about Peat & Love, go to www.ardbeg.com/peatandlove

Find us at: www.ardbeg.com
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NOTES:

Ardbeg Day:
Every year, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music takes place in May or June on Ardbeg’s island home. On the Festival’s final Saturday, Ardbeg Day, the Distillery traditionally throws open its doors to welcome fans from all over the world. In 2012 Ardbeg Day became a global event, enabling the whisky’s passionate international following to take part in a worldwide celebration of all things Ardbeg in their own country. Recent Ardbeg Day themes have included the Islay-limpics and the Peat Football World Cup, while in 2015, Ardbeg Day celebrated the single malt’s 200th anniversary by looking forward 200 years to a retro-futuristic version of Islay in 2215. For 2016, Ardbeg Day became Ardbeg Night, as fans across the globe recalled Islay’s dark past as a smugglers’ haunt. And in 2017, Ardbeg Day plunged deep under the sea for another legendary celebration.

Ardbeg Grooves: Ardbeg Grooves is a limited-edition bottling created to celebrate Ardbeg Day 2018. It is the Distillery’s first whisky with a heart matured in wine casks that have been intensely charred to carve heavy grooves in the surface of the wood. The result is a whisky with perfect harmony between smouldering, smoky cinnamon and the sweetness of vanilla popcorn, treacle and pear – with an intensity Ardbeg lovers will adore.

Tasting notes: Ardbeg Grooves is non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.

Colour: Berbere*

Nose: Intense aromas of smoked cinnamon and paprika, antique leather and saddle soap, with classic Ardbeg scents of pine resin, tar and briny sea spray in the background. A distant hint of a fragrant bonfire by the shores of the distillery and, finally, an unusual savoury note, like chilli-seasoned meats. A little splash of water releases some beautiful, unexpected aromas: lavender scented soap, ground white pepper, floral and herbal notes entwined. Fresh flowers mix with coriander leaves and mint.

Taste: A powerfully salty mouthfeel drifts into sweet vibes of treacle toffee, vanilla popcorn, salted fruits with soot and tar. Again, those distinctive savoury notes of smoky BBQ, paprika and mustard spice, fading into an unexpected haze of smoked pears and apples, almost like pear cider.

Finish: Smoked paprika and bonfires with a mellow sweetness throughout.

*African spice blend of a reddish/orange hue

Ardbeg: Ardbeg is The Ultimate Islay Single Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by whisky lovers around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most intense of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until it was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee: The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers in 130 countries worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards: Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions. Ardbeg was voted ‘World Whisky of the Year’ twice by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible (2008, 2009) and has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013). At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’. The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100. Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2017 Ardbeg Kelpie, released to celebrate Ardbeg Day, was named Whisky of the Year International Whisky Competition.

The Glenmorangie Company: The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt whisky and Ardbeg Islay Single Malt.

Responsible Drinking: Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.