Ardbeg – 14 Year Old Anthology The Unicorn's Tale (70cl, 46%)

The Unicorn's Tale is the second part of the Ardbeg Anthology, a 14-year-old Islay single malt bottled at 46%, non-chill-filtered and without added colour. Madeira and bourbon casks were married for it, and the Madeira adds a fruity, sweet counterpoint to the strong peat smoke. The edition is named after a puzzling encounter in the distillery grounds, where staff believed they saw a unicorn. The nose brings banana bread, syrupy pastry and burning cedar, with eucalyptus and aromatic smoke, and tropical fruit coming through when water is added. On the palate are lime, sweet peach, smoked fruit, malt, aniseed, nutmeg and peat smoke, with medicinal and creosote notes. The long finish carries menthol, clove, wood smoke and camphor.