Experimental Whisky Crosses Madeira Casks' Sweetness with Ardbeg's Classic Smoke

Today, Ardbeg Islay single malt whisky reveals a beguilingly sweet and smoky bottling – the second release of rare and strange single malts in its Anthology Collection. Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn's Tale is Ardbeg’s first whisky matured in a marriage of Madeira wine casks and bourbon casks. Aged 14 years, this intriguing limited edition whisky takes smoky - malt lovers on a flavor-filled canter through powerful bursts of smoke and notes of banana, menthol, and lime. 

The Ardbeg Anthology Collection comprises unusual single malts from the Distillery, which cross classic Ardbeg with experimental stock for new flavor combinations. In homage to these whiskies ’ outlandish “ hybrid ” style, each malt’s name and packaging are inspired by a different mythological creature, which some say they have glimpsed on Islay (although others are understandably skeptical...). 

A dark horse of a dram, The Unicorn’s Tale fuses the tropical sweetness of whisky aged in Madeira casks with Ardbeg’s trademark zesty, smoky notes, resulting in a fruity, aromatic, smoky creation. It follows Ardbeg Anthology’s inaugural release, The Harpy’s Tale, which marries classic Ardbeg with the Distillery’s first whisky aged in Sauternes sweet white wine casks. 

Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, said: “At Ardbeg we love experimenting with how we can push our spirit’s smoky balance into new worlds of flavor. Some time ago, we decided to try maturing Ardbeg in unusual cask types for the distillery to create sweet and smoky ‘ hybrids ’ – and so the Anthology Collection was born. 

With an ABV of 46%, Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale will be available for purchase on ReserveBar.com and at select Wine & Spirits retailers in the US for an RSP of $159.99.

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

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 among the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. 

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee comprises 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. 

Ardbeg is revered around the globe for its complex smoky, sweet balance, known as the ‘ peaty paradox ’ and continues to delight the industry with its highly acclaimed whiskies - winning a combined 24 Gold, Double Gold, Platinum, and Double Platinum medals at the major Spirits competitions in 2024 alone so far, with a previous 20 Gold+ medals just in 2023 - including the International Spirits Competition, International Wine & Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

The Ardbeg Distillery was awarded Distillery of the Year for the fourth time in 2022 at the International Whisky Competition. In 2023, The Ardbeg Distillery was awarded Islay Distillery of the Year for the fourth year in a row at the New York International Spirits Competition. 

This experimental collection comprises 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 mythological creature. 

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 characterized 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 Madeira wines. 

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide. It 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. 

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savor Ardbeg whiskies in moderation, following recommended daily alcohol consumption guidelines.