Ardbeg – Drum - Committee Release 2019 (70cl, 52%)

Ardbeg – Drum - Committee Release 2019 is a single malt whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Bottled at 52% ABV, 70cl. Finished in rum. Known for its outstandingly smoky drams, the Islay Distillery, Ardbeg was founded by John McDougall in 1815 after taking out a licence. Just under a century later, the name 'Ardbeg' and signature 'A' were registered as a trademark, an iconic recognisable logo for the distillery. Further on in the 20th century, the distillery started outsourcing, using a peated malt from the nearby Port Ellen Distillery in 1974 just before Ardbeg was mothballed for the first time in 1981. Reopened again by Allied Distillers in 1989, it was not long before the distillery was closed for a second time, however, the Glenmorangie Company saved the day by purchasing Ardbeg just before both Glenmorangie and Ardbeg became part of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. Being awarded World Whisky of the Year more than once, the distillery will continue to succeed, with the plans submitted of increasing the distillation capacity by adding not one, but two more stills in 2018, Ardbeg is only going upwards from here. This is the 2019 Ardbeg Committee Release. The Ardbeg Drum is a non-age-statement single malt matured in ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in ex-rum casks from the Americas. It was created to celebrate Ardbeg Day 2019 (June 1) held during the Islay Festival of Music & Malt (Fèis Ìle). This limited-edition Committee Release is bottled at 52% ABV, and was released exclusively to Ardbeg Committee Members.