Ardbeg has always had a cult-like following among knowledgeable single malt enthusiasts. On par with some of the best (and better-known) Islay-based Scotch whiskey producers, the brand may not be as familiar as its hallowed neighbours on the island’s famous south-east coast, such as Lagavulin or Laphroaig. But few Scotch whiskey producers match Ardbeg’s level of innovation, and its popularity is growing accordingly.
Ardbeg fans have become near-fanatics, and since LVMH acquired the brand in 2004, that name recognition has continued to grow. The brand’s whiskey makers have also taken the opportunity to create bottles that push the boundaries, including The Unicorn’s Tale, the latest addition to Ardbeg’s celebrated Anthology Collection.
Launched last year with 13-Year-Old Harpy’s Tale, the Anthology Collection is comprised of experimental single malts that use unique stock to create new flavour combinations. Each whiskey in the range is named after a different mythological creature.
Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn's Tale is the Islay brand's first whisky to be matured in a combination of Madeira wine casks and bourbon casks. Matured for 14 years, the bottling mixes smoky flavors with sweet notes from fortified Portuguese wine casks.
The resulting whisky offers a blend of rich and fruity notes including banana bread, molasses and burning cedarwood. The palate features flavours of lemon and sweet peach and bursts of smoked fruit, anise and peat. The influence of the Madeira casks can be found throughout the finish, which offers notes of menthol, clove, wood smoke and camphor.
“At Ardbeg we love to experiment with how we can take the smoky balance of our spirit into new flavour worlds,” says Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s director of whisky creation. “A while ago we decided to experiment with maturing Ardbeg in unconventional cask types for the distillery, creating sweet and smoky hybrids, and so the Anthology Collection was born.”
Bottled at 46% ABV, Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn's Tale will be available at select wine and spirits retailers across the U.S. and online for a suggested retail price of $160.
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