#Ardbeg #Islay #ArdbegAnthology #ArdbegTheBeithirsTale

EXPERIMENTAL SINGLE MALT COILS DESIGNER CASKS’ SWEETNESS AROUND ARDBEG’S HALLMARK HERBAL TONES

< Aged 15 years, Ardbeg The Beithir’s Tale is the finale to Distillery’s Anthology series of mythical malts >

Ardbeg Islay single malt whisky today unveils an aromatic and creamy 15-year-old limited edition – the finale to its Anthology series of rare and strange single malts. Named after a mythological, serpent-like beast, Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale is the Distillery’s first whisky matured in designer bourbon casks. Crafted to Ardbeg’s particular specifications, these casks wind full-bellied flavours of smoked butter and vanilla round the whisky’s classic notes of menthol and pine.

Ardbeg Anthology is a trilogy of unusual single malts which cross classic Ardbeg with experimental stock to create sweeter, more delicate tones. Capturing the “hybrid” characters of these whiskies, each malt’s name and packaging are inspired by a different mythological creature said to have been glimpsed on Islay. The bad-tempered beithir may (or may not), have once slithered through an Ardbeg warehouse.

Years ago, the Distillery’s whisky creators laid down a parcel of Ardbeg in designer bourbon casks, eager to explore their effects on its smoky, balanced spirit for the first time. Air-seasoned – rather than kiln-dried – then heavily toasted and lightly charred exactly as they asked, these bespoke casks promised to bring fuller, creamier flavours to Ardbeg. Matured for 15 years, the experiment has reached a sweet and aromatic peak. The Beithir’s Tale overflows with these buttery notes, balanced by Ardbeg’s hallmark smoky tones and sharp tangs of eucalyptus and pine.

The Beithir’s Tale completes the Anthology series, joining The Harpy’s Tale – a 13-year-old marriage of classic Ardbeg with the Distillery’s first whisky matured in Sauternes sweet white wine casks – and The Unicorn’s Tale, aged 14 years, which unites bourbon-matured Ardbeg with whisky wholly aged in Madeira wine casks.

Master Blender Gillian Macdonald said: “We are always pushing the boundaries of Ardbeg to discover even more flavour combinations. The sweet and smoky ‘hybrids’ of Ardbeg Anthology are as experimental as they come.

“Created from whisky matured in our designer casks, The Beithir’s Tale is the aromatic and sweet finale of our Anthology series. Named after a mythological, serpentine beast, this 15-year-old whisky invites notes of vanilla and smoked butter to slide through Ardbeg’s classic aromatic flavours of peat smoke, fennel, eucalyptus and pine. Rather like the beithir, it is smooth and mysterious… with a smoky, menthol bite!”

Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale has been recognised with the Spirit Gold Outstanding 2025 award (98 points) at this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition and a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge.

Priced at £135 with an ABV of 46%, Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale will be available for purchase on ardbeg.com, in Ardbeg Embassies, at the Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay and in selected whisky specialists.

RRP      £135

For exclusive Ardbeg news and releases, fans and whisky lovers can sign up to the Ardbeg Committee by visiting www.ardbeg.com/ardbeg/committee . Membership is free, and all Ardbeg fans are welcome.

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Tasting notes

ABV         46%

Colour Pale Straw

Aroma  Pungent, oily and spicy. Rich notes of treacle wrap around creosote and smoked herbs. Toasted apples and raisins reveal a sweeter underbelly. With water, eucalyptus and menthol burst forth as fennel and pine trail behind.

Taste   Astoundingly balanced. A sizzling mouthfeel leads into peat smoke, coffee grounds and currants. Sweet lemon balm entwines with smoked mandarins, followed by a sharp, smoky tang.

Finish   Long and meandering, with subtle hints of vanilla and smoked butter.

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. 

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 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 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 was awarded four Gold and eight Silver medals at the International Spirits Competition, Silver in the International Wine & Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 25 Years Old was named the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2023 New York Wine Spirits Competition, and received a Platinum medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2025, Ardbeg 17 Years Old was awarded Best Scotch Islay Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards, and the distillery was also recognised with the Category Winner awards for Ardbeg 25 Years Old and Ardbeg Corryvreckan. At the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Ardbeg Ten and Ardbeg 25 Years Old were recognised with Double Gold awards. At the 2025 International Spirits Competition, Ardbeg Seann Chreag 21 Years Old and Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K were both awarded Double Gold.

Ardbeg’s Anthology series:  This experimental collection comprises three rare and experimental Ardbegs, each created from intriguing cask combinations entirely new to the Distillery. Each whisky in the series takes its name from a different mythological creature.

The Harpy’s Tale: The series’ first single malt was released in August 2023. Aged for 13 years in a combination of classic bourbon and sweet Sauternes wine casks, this unique Ardbeg is characterised by a tussle between powerful smoke and rich sweetness.

The Unicorn’s Tale: The second whisky in the collection combines classic Ardbeg aged in bourbon casks with whisky fully matured in Malmsey Madeira casks – the sweetest and most prized of the Madeira wines.

The Beithir’s Tale: The Anthology’s third and final release is Ardbeg’s first single malt to be matured in designer bourbon casks. These bespoke casks help to create the 5-year-old whisky’s fuller, creamier flavours.

Ardbeg’s designer casks

These casks are created bespoke to Ardbeg’s specifications from slow-growth American oak. That wood is carefully chosen for its high concentrations of naturally occurring compounds which bring creamier textures to the whisky. The oak is air-seasoned – a technique which breaks down its internal structure to release softer, sweeter flavours than quicker, kiln drying achieves. Its casks are then lightly toasted and heavily charred to Ardbeg’s precise specifications, before being filled with bourbon for at least four years, for seasoning. Interacting with Ardbeg’s spirit over time, these designer casks bring a sweeter, creamier profile to the whisky.

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.

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.