Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 47.8%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Wine
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Moet Hennessy
Average price: € 90.00
Official website: www.ardbeg.com
To stay true to its nature, Ardbeg returns with its eccentric bottlings for Ardbeg Day in 2026, which is the day dedicated to the distillery during Fèis Ìle, which took place on May 30th.
The packaging, rich in allusions to Italian tourism, seems to have been created by a drunken graphic designer: images of Ardbeg mixed with a Vespa, movie cameras and film reels, a postage stamp, the Trinacria, and the Sicilian cart, women with headscarves, everything that in the minds of the Scots might evoke the Dolce Vita of 1960s Italy. All of this is inspired by the aging process of this edition, which, starting from a classic maturation in ex-bourbon casks, completed its finishing in casks that had contained Marsala from Sicily.
Created by Master Blender Gillian Macdonald, it takes its name (of course) from the sweetness of the Italian wine used for the finishing.
Tasting Notes
The sweet component of the finishing process is not immediately evident on the nose, which at least initially leans more towards balsamic and herbal notes, straddling between menthol and burnt grass, with Ardbeg’s characteristic smoke being rather subdued. Time brings forth fruity aspects, ranging from candied (apricot, cherries, orange) to fresh (plum, apple, raspberries), alongside a candy profile of almond dragees, licorice like Haribo, raisins, acacia honey, and panforte. There’s also a decent spiciness (nutmeg, black pepper) and a backdrop of damp wood. Young and not very incisive.
On the palate, black pepper, ginger, and nutmeg pave the way for a rather peculiar smoke, suspended between vegetal and coastal notes that then slides onto the used ashtray, not exactly typical of Ardbeg, which loses its substance relatively quickly. Still vegetal, with some citrus touches, slightly metallic notes, and the sweet aromas becoming almost overpowering over time, tempered by bitter hints and a notion of coffee.
Finale not very long, almost cloying, of extinguished embers, vegetal notes, candied fruit, salt.
Review: Some have called it a divisive whisky; I find it hard to believe anyone truly appreciates it as an Ardbeg: aimless, bland, lacking a clear direction and personality, easily forgotten.
Vote: 78/100