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

Ardbeg – Heavy Vapours Committee Release is a whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Bottled at 50.2% 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. Heavy Vapours Committee Release: The 2023 Committee Release from Ardbeg has interestingly been distilled without a purifier, this allows the heaviest and untamed vapours to rise up the still during distillation and creates an intense, aromatic and sweet flavour. This unusual process has been brought to life in a graphic novel by artist and illustrator Dilraj Mann.