Ardbeg returns to its Anthology Collection with the second release of rare and strange single malts, Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale.
The expression is Ardbeg’s first whisky matured in a marriage of Madeira wine casks and bourbon casks. Aged 14 years, this limited edition whisky features bursts of smoke and notes of banana, menthol, and lime and is 92 proof.
It follows Ardbeg Anthology’s inaugural release, The Harpy’s Tale, which married classic Ardbeg with the Distillery’s first whisky aged in Sauternes sweet white wine casks.
“At Ardbeg we love experimenting with how we can push our spirit’s smoky balance into new worlds of flavor,” said Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation. “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.”
“The Unicorn’s Tale is the second release in this series, which has been created by marrying classic Ardbeg matured in bourbon casks with a parcel of whisky wholly matured in sweet Madeira wine casks,” Lumsden added. “The outcome is a whisky bursting with notes of banana bread and tropical fruit fused with Ardbeg’s hallmark flavors of camphor, lime zest, and wood smoke. This 14-year-old whisky may appear sweet in nature, but its smoky side is not to be underestimated!”
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.
Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale is available for purchase on ReserveBar.com and at select retailers for $159.99.
