Ardbeg Feis Ile 2012 Ardbeg Day
5cl / 56.7%
£199.00
- Cask type: Sherry
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
Tasting Notes
Wood smoke, nuts, citrus flavours
Peat, toffee, candied fruits
Long, with peppery and sweet notes
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A high-strength Committee Release celebrating the inaugural Ardbeg Day, defined by peat smoke and sherry cask complexity.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Ardbeg / Official Bottling / Scotland, Islay |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Heavily Peated, Committee Release) |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | No Age Statement (NAS) / Various / Bottled 2012 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 56.7% ABV / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Marriage of 8, 9, and 12 year old Bourbon casks, finished in a Sherry Butt |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer. |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (Implied by Cask Strength/Committee status) |
| Cask Strength | Yes |
| Bottle count / Outturn | 13,200 bottles |
| Intended channel | Feis Ile Festival Exclusive / Ardbeg Committee |
| Packaging | Standard Ardbeg bottle, specific Committee Release label, unboxed (Neck hang provided) |
| Notes on discrepancies | This is the higher strength "Committee Release," distinct from the later "General Release" typically bottled at lower ABV. |
Historical Context
The Ardbeg Feis Ile 2012 release is highly significant as it marked the first official Ardbeg Day, celebrated worldwide on 2 June 2012, coinciding with the annual Islay Festival of Music and Malt (Feis Ile). This Committee Release, bottled specifically for members of the Ardbeg Committee, is the true inaugural bottle for this now globally famous annual event.
The liquid itself is a highly technical blend of three distinct aged spirits—eight, nine, and twelve years old—which were initially matured in bourbon barrels before being married together in a sherry butt for a finishing period. This specific cask composition was designed to deliver a complex flavour profile, balancing the distillery's intense peat with the richness of a sherry finish. The total outturn of 13,200 bottles is explicitly stated on the packaging or associated documentation. The fixed scarcity tied to the first Ardbeg Day ensures sustained collector interest.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
The technical specifications confirm this is a powerful and intentionally complex dram. It is bottled at a high Cask Strength of 56.7% ABV. The maturation regime involved three key components—bourbon casks of 8, 9, and 12 years old—all married and finished in a sherry butt. The use of refill sherry ensures the influence is present but does not overpower the core Ardbeg peat smoke and maritime character. The total outturn of 13,200 bottles is explicitly stated on the packaging or associated documentation.
Crucially, this bottling's value is derived from its status as the higher-proof Committee Release, an identifier that separates it from later standard releases which often utilized the same name but were bottled at a lower strength.
Documented variants
The "Committee Release" is the defining variant. A subsequent "General Release" at a lower ABV is often produced for other annual Feis Ile editions, but this specific 56.7% ABV is definitive for the 2012 Ardbeg Day release.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 56.7% | 70cl | Committee/Feis Ile Exclusive | Tan label, first official Ardbeg Day | Very High (Definitive Festival Release, High Proof) |
| Varies | 70cl | General Retail | Lower ABV (for later Feis Ile editions) | Moderate (Less intense liquid) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
Authentication of this Committee Release requires confirming the precise bottling strength (56.7% ABV) and the tan-coloured label specific to this expression. The bottling date code is crucial for verification (e.g., L12 046). Since the bottle was unboxed, often with just a neck hang, the integrity of the fill level is paramount. Collectors should confirm the fill level is at or near the 'Into Neck' level. Given the high alcoholic strength, the liquid is well-preserved, but the capsule seal must be verified for tampering.
Regulatory/terminology notes
The 56.7% ABV ensures the spirit is delivered at Cask Strength, retaining maximum flavour oils and concentration. As a high-end Ardbeg, it is Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF) and of natural colour. The "Feis Ile" designation links the release irrevocably to the Islay Festival, increasing its collectible provenance.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
The profile is intense and complex, blending aggressive peat smoke with unexpected sweetness and maritime notes.
Nose: Bursting with fresh smoke, lashings of fruit, and a creamy oiliness. Notes include barbecues in summer, meaty aromas, charred elements, and sweet vanilla spice. After aeration, a thick brine and coastal sea salt emerge, along with sharper notes of acrid green apple and young grapefruit.
Palate: A great experience of rich oils and delicious sherry notes. Flavours include plenty of seaweed, peat, and a slight menthol character, delivered with complexity and a round density.
Finish: Creamy sherry goodness which dries very nicely on the palate. Long, with lingering peat and sweetness.
With water: Letting the spirit breathe is recommended. Dilution is typically required to fully appreciate the complex layering beneath the high proof.
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Ardbeg is an iconic Islay distillery, globally revered for producing the world’s most heavily peated single malts. Under the ownership of LVMH, the distillery maintains a consistent programme of highly sought-after, limited-edition releases, often presented at Cask Strength, leveraging their cult-like Committee membership to drive high secondary market values.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras
Focus on the 56.7% ABV Committee Release; verification of the tan label and specific bottling code is essential.
Red flags to avoid
Avoid any versions bottled at lower ABV (often released as the subsequent General Release). Given the scarcity, check meticulously for signs of refilling (e.g., loose capsule, non-original seal).
Condition thresholds
Near 'Into Neck' fill level is required for high valuation.
Margin/velocity expectations
High margin potential, high velocity due to sustained collector demand for Ardbeg's limited releases.
