Ardbeg – Heavy Vapours Committee Release 2023 (70cl, 50.2%)

This is a Committee Release single malt from Ardbeg on Islay, bottled at 50.2% ABV in a 70cl bottle. It matured in ex-bourbon casks. For the first time in the distillery's history, it was distilled without a purifier, the filter above the still that balances peat aromas with floral fruitiness. Dr Bill Lumsden experimented with the distillation to capture the heavier, wilder vapours, then matured and bottled the result. The nose is intense and aromatic, with smoke and a touch of sweetness. On the palate come bittersweet smoky waves with ashy coal dust, cardamom, peppermint and coffee grounds, followed by dark chocolate and eucalyptus.