#Ardbeg #ArdbegDay2025 #ArdbegSmokiverse

 LIMITED EDITION EXPLORES A FRUITY NEW DIMENSION IN TIME FOR ARDBEG DAY

< Distillery’s first “high-gravity” whisky invites Ardbeg fans into the Smokiverse >

Ardbeg Day is a global celebration of all things Ardbeg, 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 on Saturday 31^st May are set to be out of this world. At the Distillery and across the globe, Ardbeg will transport smoky malt lovers’ tastebuds to a fruity new dimension, with Ardbeg Smokiverse. This limited edition will be the Islay Distillery’s first whisky crafted from a high-gravity mash, resulting in a distinctly vibrant, tropical and fruity spirit.

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 flavour-active compounds known as acetate esters, leading to a fruitier, more tropical spirit. Aged in bourbon casks, this Ardbeg whisky unveils layers of muscovado sugar, ripe barley, and toasted sourdough bread, all culminating in a burst of ripe tropical fruits and sweet peat.

Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, said: “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 flavour. By ramping up the density of our wort to new heights, we’ve drawn in fruitier, sweeter flavours from the deepest corners of the mash tun. Upon first sip, you can expect a vibrant burst of fruity, ester notes, rather like smoked bubblegum, 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 delights of high gravity in the Smokiverse: a place filled with cosmic games, space-themed cocktails, whisky tastings and smoky bites.

Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Centre Manager and Ardbeg Committee Chair, said: “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. 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 exclusively from Ardbeg.com and Ardbeg embassies from 28^th – 30^th May, and will then be available from 31^st May via other whisky specialists and online retailers, RRP: £93.

For more news on Ardbeg Day 2025 and all things Ardbeg, smoky malt whisky fans can join the Ardbeg Committee at ardbeg.com/en-gb/committee

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Ardbeg Smokiverse Tasting Notes:

ABV:      48.3%

Colour: Bright Gold

Aroma: A burst of fruity, ester notes, almost like smoked bubblegum, along with a beautiful aroma of ripening barley and toasted sourdough bread. With water, more of the smoke notes appear, but in this instance the peat smoke is very sweet and aromatic, almost reminiscent of juicy tropical fruits which have been gently smoked.

Taste:    A rich, creamy texture is followed by some sharp sooty and spicy notes, like tar, creosote, aniseed and clove, but these are tempered with a distinctive sweetness, like muscovado sugar. There are some structured, woody notes, like sweet oak and leather.

Finish: Some earthy peat moss, bonfire embers and charcoal. 

RRP: £93

Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex 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 the brand 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. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. 

The 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 worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 200,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 140 countries.  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 Jackie Thomson, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards

Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, then Distillery Manager 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. Ardbeg Ten Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden MBE was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition. In 2022, at the International Whisky Competition, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the Year Award, while Ardbeg Ardcore won first place in Best New Scotch Release, Best Peated Single Malt and Best Islay Single Malt. In 2023, Ardbeg 25 Years Old was named the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the New York Wine Spirits Competition. In 2024, Ardbeg 25 Years Old received a platinum award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Best Islay Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards. 

High-gravity mashing

Gravity is a measure of a wort’s density (a wort is a liquid created during mashing). A high-gravity mash uses a more concentrated wort with more grain and less water. The more concentrated wort results in a fruitier, juicier and more tropical style of Ardbeg’s spirit.

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 Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.