HISTORIC WHISKIES ENCAPSULATE DISTILLERY’S ROLLERCOASTER PAST
Irreplaceable bottlings from the 1980s celebrate Ardbeg’s survival – against the odds
Ardbeg today releases two historic whiskies created at the most pivotal moments of the Islay single malt’s past. Uniting irreplaceable stock from the Distillery’s most turbulent time, Ardbeg The Rollercoaster uniquely captures its lows and highs. Contained within 143 sets, these two rare cask single malts are time capsules of a bygone Ardbeg. One was distilled in 1981 when the Distillery closed, many feared forever. The other in 1989, as its hope-filled revival began. Together, they embody the irrepressible spirit of Ardbeg, which has survived against the odds.
Founded in 1815 on the remote Scottish island of Islay, Ardbeg is famed for creating the world’s smokiest drams. But while this whisky is today revered around the world, its path has been strewn with challenges. In the 1970s, with fashion favouring blended whiskies, just a few casks each year were set aside to be matured as single malt. As a result, stock from that decade is exceptionally hard to come by. Then during the 1980s, the Scotch whisky industry suffered a downturn, which left Ardbeg in a perilous state. On 25th March 1981, the Distillery and on-site maltings closed, and it seemed the iconic name of Ardbeg might be lost for good. Over the next eight years, the Distillery stood silent, its future hanging in the balance. Eventually, as the outlook for Scotch improved, Ardbeg’s fortunes changed. And the Distillery re-opened under new ownership in October 1989, to begin a brave new chapter.
Created two weeks before the Distillery’s closure, The Rollercoaster’s first whisky is from the last cask remaining from the stock of 1981. This 42-year-old bottling was created from a blend of heavily peated malt (up to 110ppm) from Ardbeg’s own malting floors, as well lightly peated malt, only used at the Distillery for a very short period to create “Kildalton-style” Ardbeg. Aged in bourbon casks, then transferred into a single Oloroso sherry cask for rich, spicy notes, it is an unrepeatable taste of Ardbeg’s past.
Celebrating Ardbeg’s 1989 revival, The Rollercoaster’s second whisky is one of the Distillery’s final casks left from that year. It was distilled on 6th December, just weeks after production restarted. By then, malt was supplied by Islay’s Port Ellen Maltings. And to create spirit more suitable for blends, the peating level was lowered to 30-35ppm (today it is a minimum of 50ppm). After an initial maturation in bourbon casks, the whisky was later reracked into a single refill bourbon cask to enhance its subtle peated style. Aged 33 years, its unique flavours capture a singular moment in the Distillery’s history.
As its fans know well, however, Ardbeg’s tumult did not end in 1989 – and the Distillery closed again in 1996. Yet, saved from extinction a year later, it has gone from strength to strength. Ardbeg now has a near-cult following and is one of the highest-awarded smoky malts. Leaving its darkest days far behind, Ardbeg has shown itself to be among the world’s most collectible whiskies. And its core range has won legions of fans around the globe for its signature smoky and complex style.
CEO Caspar MacRae said: “From our Distillery’s most perilous low come two unrepeatable bottlings which take Ardbeg to new heights. Ardbeg The Rollercoaster shows just how far our Distillery has come since its uncertain past. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most collectible whiskies. And as its fanbase continues to grow, we are more invested in our Distillery and our island community than ever before. We have built a new stillhouse to ensure the future of Ardbeg’s legendary smoky spirit, and we have recently invested in a well-known hotel on Islay, so we can create a world-class hospitality experience for residents and visitors alike. Here’s to the future of Ardbeg!”
Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, said: “Ardbeg The Rollercoaster is a unique opportunity for collectors to experience two very different tastes of Ardbeg’s heritage, and acquire a set of bottlings with an incredible story. The 1981 expression was made from some of the last malt ever to emerge from our maltings as Ardbeg teetered on the brink of closure. It is a beautiful combination of sweet and spicy sherried notes and hints of Ardbeg’s savoury side. Distilled soon after spirit flowed from the stills again, with a radically different malt, the 1989 is an equally singular Ardbeg. Classic notes of lime and vanilla combine with sea spray and very subtle, smoky tones. A snapshot of the contrasting spirits of those days, the time capsule whiskies of Ardbeg The Rollercoaster will go down in Ardbeg history.”
Whisky Expert and Writer, Charles Maclean, who tasted the whiskies with Dr Bill Lumsden, said: “The Rollercoaster’s two whiskies vividly embody the up-and-down fortunes of Ardbeg Distillery during the 1980s. With their rich historical provenance, intriguing stories and exceptional flavour, these rare, limited editions will be highly sought after by collectors.
“While these single malts are quite different to each other in taste and aroma, both are created from more lightly peated malt than the Ardbeg of today – and so have a gentler phenolic style. I find the 1981 whisky unusually mentholic and cooling, and the 1989 particularly elegant and reserved. Both are fascinating representations of highly significant years in Ardbeg’s history.”
Beautifully encased in a presentation box crafted from solid Scottish oak by renowned designer John Galvin, Ardbeg The Rollercoaster’s 143 sets will be offered to collectors and connoisseurs through the Moët Hennessy Private Client channel, across the world.
To register interest in purchasing Ardbeg The Rollercoaster, visit ardbeg.com or enquire at the Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay. Price on application.
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The Rollercoaster’s first whisky: Ardbeg Cask No.1 1981
This whisky was distilled 11th March 1981, from a rare union of malts. It was produced using a heavily peated malt (up to 110ppm) – some of the last ever made in Ardbeg’s own maltings – as well as very lightly peated malt, used to create “Kildalton-style” Ardbeg. This was produced at the Distillery owner’s maltings in Kilgour, Fife, in the east of Scotland, and only used at the Distillery from 1978-1981. This intriguing spirit was laid down bourbon barrels – some of the final casks filled before the Distillery closed on 25th March that year. The whisky was then transferred into a refill Oloroso sherry cask on 30th August 2006, to bring subtle sherried notes to its classically smoky style. It was bottled on 20th June 2023 at 47.3% ABV.
Tasting notes
Colour: Burnt Orange
Aroma: A beautiful combination of Brazil-nut-flavoured toffee, orange syrup, linseed oil, the gentlest hint of woodsmoke, some touches of grilled asparagus and pepper, and a soft but distinctively savoury note like sourdough bread. A few drops of water releases more toffee notes, a touch of Viennese coffee and some distant herbs.
Taste: A rich, warming and peppery mouthfeel leads into a symphony of incredible flavours – soft burnished leather, aniseed, toffee, demerara sugar, and a gentle tarry smoke flavour. Then the spices appear: clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, with some soft, sweet malty biscuity notes.
Finish: Soothing and gentle, goes on forever, with a balanced combination of dates, toffee, leather and creosote.
The Rollercoaster’s second whisky: Ardbeg Cask No.17 1989
Distilled on 6th December 1989, this whisky was among the first single malt to be laid down after Ardbeg re-opened in October that year. With malt now supplied by Port Ellen maltings at 30-35ppm to make it more suitable for blending, its spirit was much more lightly peated than had formerly been traditional for Ardbeg – or is today. From 1989-1996, production was intermittent, as Ardbeg only operated for two months each year. This spirit was initially laid down in bourbon barrels, and transferred into a refill bourbon cask on 11th August 1999, to enhance its gently peated character. It was bottled on 20th June 2023 at 45.3% ABV.
Tasting notes
Colour: Deep Gold
Aroma: Sooty and drying, with wax crayons, fennel, mustard seed and toasting bread, along with that most distinctive of Ardbeg aromas, like pine resin or smoked lime skins. A splash of water releases a creaminess, with a gentle touch of vanilla and smoked pear, along with some briny sea spray.
Taste: A creamy and effervescent texture is followed by a burst of aniseed toffee, hints of smoked popcorn, smoked paprika and gentle, soothing antiseptic lozenges.
Finish: Tarry smoke is present and beautifully integrated with sweet vanilla and Viennese coffee.
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 180,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 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 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 to date, Ardbeg has been 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 Rollercoaster’s presentation box
Designed and crafted by John Galvin Design, the wooden gift edition which houses this set of bottles is inspired by Ardbeg’s rollercoaster history. Its contemporary design has been created using a fusion of hand-crafted techniques and precision engineering. On the front of the gift box, made from Scottish oak, an undulating copper-coloured line reflects the track of a rollercoaster. It opens up to reveal an interior with details in copper and leather, reminiscent of a rollercoaster car – complete with the traditional bumper. Behind the bumper sit the two bottles, side by side, as if ready to begin a hair-raising journey at the funfair. Meanwhile, on Ardbeg’s classic green bottles, the dates 1981 and 1989 are playfully picked out in a rollercoaster track design. The stoppers are also copper in colour, with wavy lines evoking a rollercoaster motion. On each label, the outlook for Ardbeg at the time is depicted – on the 1981 is written: ‘The End Was Nigh’ and on the 1989 ‘A New Beginning’.
Ardbeg’s barley
Ardbeg malted its own heavily-peated barley on site until 1981 until the distillery was mothballed. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Distillery was also producing unpeated “Kildalton-style” Ardbeg, using unpeated malt from Kilgour Maltings in Fife. As a result, Ardbeg’s peating style was varied. When it re-opened in 1989, the Distillery began using barley malted at Port Ellen Maltings on Islay. Ardbeg uses the same maltings today, with malt created to its exact specifications.
Ardbeg’s Collectability
Rare Whisky 101 produces in-depth reports of the rare whisky market. In a recent report, its Collectors Ranking table shows Ardbeg as the second-most collectable whisky, equally weighting volume and value data for whisky sold in the UK at auction. https://www.rarewhisky101.com/intelligence
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.
