Ardbeg – Eureka! Committee Release (70cl, 52.2%)

Ardbeg – Eureka! Committee Release is a whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Bottled at 52.2% 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. Committee Release: Eureka! In celebration of 25 years of the Ardbeg Committee, this release has been described as a skilful marriage of PX Sherry and roasted malt spirit matured in bourbon casks. The whisky is the result of a secret experiment called ‘Operation Smokescreen’ where committee members were invited to taste five extreme versions of Ardbeg and compare them to their benchmark 10 year old. With the data collected, further experimentation would take place...until that Eureka! moment arrived!