Ardbeg – Blaaack Committee Release (70cl, 50.7%)

Ardbeg – Blaaack Committee Release is a whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Bottled at 50.7% ABV, 70cl. Since its establishment in 1815, The Ardbeg distillery has been on a tumultuous rollercoaster ride of ownership changes, closures, and reopening. Stability was only achieved relatively recently, when the ailing distillery was purchased in 1997 by industry giants, Glenmorangie. The subsequent years have seen the distillery’s popularity swell, with fans enticed by the signature style of tarry, sooty smoke, balanced against citric sweetness and an oily mouthfeel. While Ardbeg still retains its distinctive personality, it has definitely been influenced by Glenmorangie’s propensity for experimenting with cask finishing, and (dare we say it) NAS expressions. Blaaack Committee Release: The Ardbeg Blaaack, released in 2020, was matured in the finest Pinot Noir wine casks from New Zealand and takes its name from the imagery of Ardbeg standing as the black sheep among the whitewashed walls of Islay. The Committee Release celebrates the members of the Ardbeggian flock from far-flung places dedicated to supporting the distillery.