Review | Ardbeg Spectacular

Each year the Islay distillery of Ardbeg releases an annual Fèis Ìle bottling for Ardbeg Day – this day at the beginning of June marks the end of the festival on the famous whisky island of Islay. Ardbeg Spectacular represents the first single malt fr…



Each year the Islay distillery of Ardbeg releases an annual Fèis Ìle bottling for Ardbeg Day - this day at the beginning of June marks the end of the festival on the famous whisky island of Islay. Ardbeg Spectacular represents the first single malt from the distillery to feature maturation in ex-Port casks. It is a marriage of traditional ex-bourbon cask Ardbeg and spirit matured fully in ex-Port barrels and has been created by Gillian Macdonald, the Master Blender for Ardbeg. Ardbeg Spectacular is released at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. 

The Ardbeg distillery is located on the southern coast of the Hebridean island of Islay. It was founded in 1815 by John MacDougall, although records have distillation taking place on the site as far back as 1794. The recent history shows numerous changes of ownership from the 1950s right through to a fallow period in the 1980s and 90s, until The Glenmorangie Company (now Moet Hennessy) took over in 1997. This signalled the rebirth of Ardbeg and a significant upturn in fortunes. The distillery has an annual production of just 2.4 million litres per year and boasts an award-winning visitor centre.

"Ardbeg Spectacular is a high-flying spirit, very befitting of Ardbeg Day. Its years in bourbon and port casks create a spectacle of flavours, the like of which Ardbeggians will never have tasted before." 
Gillian Macdonald. 

Ardbeg Spectacular is available worldwide, plus from the Ardbeg visitor centre and brand website www.ardbeg.com. When writing this post, bottles remained available with several retailers. The exact number of bottles in this limited edition has not been revealed, but each will cost £110/ US$135.

Our Tasting Notes


The colour is deep gold and the nose is vibrant, smoky and sweet. Aromas of medicinal peat smoke and coal tar soap mingle with heather honey, bittersweet maltiness and milk chocolate. There are also further aromas of dried fruit and vanilla fudge, plus hints of smoked fish and a good pinch of white pepper. The combination is heady and inviting.

On the palate this whisky is bold and big. The medicinal peat smoke and white pepper notes from the nose hit first - think of ashy bonfire embers, drying seaweed and fresh tar combined with hints of smoked fish and a mechanics oily rag. An interesting note of liquorice develops out of this with time, as does a hint of menthol or something minty. 

Some much needed sweetness sits in the background and becomes more influential with time - imagine floral heather honey, vanilla custard and some golden syrup. Later notes of caramelised pear, dried fruit (especially plump sugary sultana, plus some cranberry), baked apple and cocoa powder also come through nicely. Some bittersweet malty cereals appear at the end.

The finish is long. Very long actually. The peat smoke wraps around everything and never loosens its grip. This drags out the length of the finish, especially once the sweeter and fruitier elements have started to fade. This gives an ashy dryness and a distinct peppery warmth.

What's The Verdict?

This is a very enjoyable whisky from Ardbeg. The use of the ex-Port casks has added a lovely depth and complexity to the flavour profile and it works very well with the high level of peat smoke on show. The way this smoke brings everything together is great and the extra sweetness elevates the whisky well. This is definitely one of the better Ardbeg Day bottlings of recent times.


Leaving Laphroaig…and Islay Behind

Barry MacAffer is leaving Laphroaig Distillery and his native Islay for a new adventure: building a malt whisky distillery in South Korea. This week on… Read More

Barry MacAffer is leaving Laphroaig Distillery and his native Islay for a new adventure: building a malt whisky distillery in South Korea. This week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, Barry tells us why he’s making the move now and what he’ll miss most about Islay. In the news, the threat of tariffs hangs over the whisky industry again as the U.S. Presidential election heats up, another new distillery is in the works for Scotland, and Rosebank Distillery opens its doors to visitors for the first time. 

Episode 1060: June 9, 2024

Links: Laphroaig | Brown-Forman | Stock Spirits | Rosebank Distillery | James B. Beam Distilling Co. | Green River Bourbon | Knob Creek | FEW Spirits | J. Rieger & Co. | Crown Royal | Highland Park | Aberfeldy | Bunnahabhain | Fettercairn | High Coast Distillery | Old Fitzgerald | Never Say Die

Dispatch from Jura

There’s one distillery on Scotland’s Isle of Jura, and Jura master whisky maker Dr. Kirstie McCallum joins us from the island this week on WhiskyCast… Read More

There’s one distillery on Scotland’s Isle of Jura, and Jura master whisky maker Dr. Kirstie McCallum joins us from the island this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth. We’ll talk about Jura’s festival day as part of the Islay Festival of Malt and Music, this year’s Festival bottling, and her 25-year-long career in the Scotch Whisky industry. We’ll also have details on the week’s new releases, tasting notes, and much more!

Episode 1059: June 2, 2024

Links: Jura Whisky | Diageo | Barrell Bourbon | Laphroaig | Douglas Laing & Co. | Daftmill | Benromach | Bushmills | Teeling Whisky Company | High Coast Distillery | Suntory | The Dalmore | Whisky Advocate

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | May 17, 2024

Welcome to Inbox – our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from arou…



Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/ piece of news/ PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 
 
Here is a round-up of this week's whisky news. 
 
________
 
 

The Irish whiskey brand of Redbreast has announced the final bottling in its Dream Cask Collection and it is the oldest release yet. The Redbreast Dream Cask Zenith Edition is a 38 years old single pot still whiskey and was distilled in 1985. Initial maturation in American oak ex-bourbon casks for 27 years before being transferred to a single first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry cask in 2013 for a secondary maturation. 
 
The new whiskey will be one of the last that Billy Leighton, the legendary Master Blender Emeritus of Redbreast, works on. The Redbreast Dream Cask series was first released in 2017 and has seen annual bottlings. The Zenith Edition is bottled at 45.3% ABV and will be available to Birdhouse members from May 20. For further information - click here. A bottle will cost €1,000.

 

Diageo have announced details of their annual Fèis Ìle bottlings, which are always highly anticipated. This year sees three limited edition single malts - one from Caol Ila and two from Lagavulin. 
 
The Caol Ila 13 years old Fèis Ìle 2024 Edition (pictured, above) has matured in French oak ex-Ruby Port casks sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal. These were hand selected by Eva Cumming, the Distillery Manager at Caol Ila. It has been bottled at 54.5% ABV and there are just 1,404 bottles. Each will cost £185 and will only be available from the Caol Ila distillery, starting on Caol Ila Day (May 27) until sold out.


The Lagavulin 10 years old Fèis Ìle 2024 Edition (pictured, above) features rare heavily peated spirit and has been matured in a combination of re-fill and heavily charred casks plus first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. It is released at 56.7% ABV and there are just 1,800 bottles. Each will cost £175. 
 
The final whisky is the Lagavulin Skies of Fèis Ìle (pictured, below), which is a 29-year-old single malt. Maturation has been in a single heavily charred American oak ex-Amoroso sherry hogshead. The cask is expected to yield just 250 bottles, each of which will be hand-filled and signed by Jordan Paisley, the Distillery Manager at Lagavulin, at the distillery on Lagavulin Day (May 25). The price will be £2,500 per bottle. You can pre-order your bottle via www.malts.com.





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Big Changes for Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey marked its 10th anniversary last December, and this April, Edrington took majority ownership of the Cowboy State’s first distillery. That ended the run… Read More

Wyoming Whiskey marked its 10th anniversary last December, and this April, Edrington took majority ownership of the Cowboy State’s first distillery. That ended the run of David DeFazio as Wyoming Whiskey’s president, but he remains the brand’s global ambassador and a part-owner of the distillery. We’ll talk with him about the changes since then, along with what the future holds, both for him and the brand. We’ll also catch up with Wyoming Whiskey’s first master distiller, Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Nally and master blender Nancy Fraley on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, too. In the news, the drinks industry is mourning the death of Diageo CEO Sir Ivan Menezes this week, while Brown-Forman has won a trademark lawsuit challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Episode 1008: June 11, 2023


Links: Wyoming Whiskey | Diageo | Jack Daniel’s | Glenglassaugh | Aberfeldy | Ardray Whisky | Ian Macleod Distillers | Buffalo Trace | Hudson Whiskey | Killowen Distillery | Bardstown Bourbon Company | Bunnahabhain | Brown-Forman

Big Changes for Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey marked its 10th anniversary last December, and this April, Edrington took majority ownership of the Cowboy State’s first distillery. That ended the run… Read More

Wyoming Whiskey marked its 10th anniversary last December, and this April, Edrington took majority ownership of the Cowboy State’s first distillery. That ended the run of David DeFazio as Wyoming Whiskey’s president, but he remains the brand’s global ambassador and a part-owner of the distillery. We’ll talk with him about the changes since then, along with what the future holds, both for him and the brand. We’ll also catch up with Wyoming Whiskey’s first master distiller, Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Nally and master blender Nancy Fraley on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, too. In the news, the drinks industry is mourning the death of Diageo CEO Sir Ivan Menezes this week, while Brown-Forman has won a trademark lawsuit challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Episode 1008: June 11, 2023


Links: Wyoming Whiskey | Diageo | Jack Daniel’s | Glenglassaugh | Aberfeldy | Ardray Whisky | Ian Macleod Distillers | Buffalo Trace | Hudson Whiskey | Killowen Distillery | Bardstown Bourbon Company | Bunnahabhain | Brown-Forman

Big Changes for Wyoming Whiskey (Episode 1008: June 11, 2023)

Wyoming Whiskey marked its 10th anniversary last December, and this April, Edrington took majority ownership of the Cowboy State’s first distillery. That ended the run of David DeFazio as Wyoming Whiskey’s president, but he remains the brand’s global ambassador and a part-owner of the distillery. We’ll talk with him about the changes since then, along with what the future holds, both for him and the brand. We’ll also catch up with Wyoming Whiskey’s first master distiller, Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Nally and master blender Nancy Fraley on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, too. In the news, the drinks industry is Read More »

Wyoming Whiskey marked its 10th anniversary last December, and this April, Edrington took majority ownership of the Cowboy State’s first distillery. That ended the run of David DeFazio as Wyoming Whiskey’s president, but he remains the brand’s global ambassador and a part-owner of the distillery. We’ll talk with him about the changes since then, along with what the future holds, both for him and the brand. We’ll also catch up with Wyoming Whiskey’s first master distiller, Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Nally and master blender Nancy Fraley on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, too. In the news, the drinks industry is mourning the death of Diageo CEO Sir Ivan Menezes this week, while Brown-Forman has won a trademark lawsuit challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court.


Links: Wyoming Whiskey | Diageo | Jack Daniel’s | Brown-Forman | Glenglassaugh | Aberfeldy | Ardray Whisky | Ian Macleod Distillers | Buffalo Trace | Hudson Whiskey | Killowen Distillery | Bardstown Bourbon Company | Bunnahabhain

Review / Ardbeg Heavy Vapours (Ardbeg Day Edition)

This is the annual Ardbeg Day release, which celebrates the final day of the Feis Ile festival on the famous whisky island of Islay, from the cult distillery of Ardbeg. Ardbeg Heavy Vapours is the result of an experiment conducted by Dr. Bill Lumsden, …


This is the annual Ardbeg Day release, which celebrates the final day of the Feis Ile festival on the famous whisky island of Islay, from the cult distillery of Ardbeg. Ardbeg Heavy Vapours is the result of an experiment conducted by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Ardbeg, several years ago. For the first time ever at Ardbeg its whisky was distilled without a purifier – the apparatus on the still responsible for maintaining balance between extreme peat and floral fruitiness at the distillery. This allows the heaviest alcohol vapours to rise up the still to be condensed back to a spirit. 

Ardbeg Heavy Vapours will be available in two formats - a very limited cask strength Ardbeg Committee version at 50.2% ABV and one regular edition at 46% ABV, which will see wider availability. Both will be on sale in the coming weeks following Ardbeg Day on Saturday 3 June. The 46% ABV expression will be available from Ardbeg Embassies and specialist whisky retailers worldwide, plus the distillery shop. A bottle will cost £120.

The Ardbeg distillery is located on the southern coast of the famous whisky island of Islay and was founded in 1815 by John MacDougall, although records have distilling on the site as far back as 1794. The recent history shows numerous changes of ownership from the 1950s right through the fallow period of the 1980s and 90s, until The Glenmorangie Company (now Moet Hennessy) took over in 1997. This signalled the rebirth of Ardbeg. The distillery has an annual production of just 2.4 million litres per year and boasts an award-winning visitor centre.
 
"A missing purifier is unprecedented for Ardbeg. This experiment was something I’ve always imagined trying – what would happen to the flavour and character of Ardbeg by distilling in this unique way? Well, it’s now time for Ardbeg fans to find out." 
Dr. Bill Lumsden. 
 
Our tasting notes
 
This review is for the 46% ABV Ardbeg Day Edition of Heavy Vapours. 
 
The colour is pale lemon yellow and the nose is big, bold and intense. Pungent and sooty coal ash aromas mingle with robust malted cereals and a whiff of drying seaweed. Bonfire embers and a hint of iodine are also evident. The heavy smoky aromas sit alongside sweeter golden syrup, toffee and vanilla sugar with peppery spice and a hint of eucalyptus in the background.

On the palate this whisky is equally as robust and intense as the nose suggested. The bold peat smoke leads the way, but the texture feels heavier and oilier than regular expressions of Ardbeg. It coats the mouth. The smoke is very ashy and sooty - think of dying bonfire embers and coal dust - and almost overwhelming. Medicinal hints of iodine and coal tar soap also come through well.

The intensity is balanced, well almost balanced, by a distinct confected sweetness - this has elements of icing sugar and candyfloss to it. Further sweetness is provided by a lovely golden syrup note, which is complimented by vanilla fudge and some milk chocolate. There is also something green and vegetal in there, which is most reminiscent of damp seaweed, eucalyptus and menthol.

The finish is long and peaty. The sweet characteristics slowly fade to give the whisky an even more ashy and sooty quality. This gives a drying and warming note that develops to become more spicy and hot with time. A late hit of damp seaweed and clove also evolve.

What's the verdict?

Heavy Vapours is one of the most intense and smoky whiskies that we have sampled for a while. The heavy and oily body makes for a bold experience and the slightly unbalanced peat smoke gives an almost overwhelming feel. This is not a negative. Quite the opposite actually. Whether the lack of purifier was an accident or calculated experiment - it has worked.

This Ardbeg is one for the true fans of the brand and very intense smoky whiskies. If you fit into either category, then you should enjoy Heavy Vapours. It is one of the better limited edition Ardbegs in recent memory. Grab a bottle while it is still available or you may regret it.

Review / Caol Ila 13 years old Fèis Ìle 2023 Edition

This whisky is the annual limited edition bottling for the Fèis Ìle festival from the Islay distillery of Caol Ila. The Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 Edition is released at 13 years old and has been matured in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry seasoned c…


This whisky is the annual limited edition bottling for the Fèis Ìle festival from the Islay distillery of Caol Ila. The Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 Edition is released at 13 years old and has been matured in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry seasoned casks. These casks were selected by Sam Hale, the Distillery Manager at Caol Ila, and his warehouse team. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 60.4% ABV and will cost £185. The new whisky will only be available at the distillery visitor centre until sold out. It was released to celebrate the Caol Ila open day on Monday, May 29. The exact number of bottles was not revealed in the press release.

Caol Ila was founded Hector Henderson in 1846. It is located on the rugged north eastern coast of Islay, close to the hamlet of Port Askaig. The distillery looks across the Straight of Islay, the fast flowing channel of water after which it is named, to the neighbouring island of Jura. It is a large distillery with an annual production capacity of 6.5 million litres and is owned by Diageo. 

Caol Ila is a major ingredient in Diageo's Johnnie Walker range, especially in the smoky Black Label expression. The visitor centre has recently reopened following a major revamp as the fourth destination in Diageo's 'Four Corners of Scotland' Johnnie Walker experience. The other three distilleries are Cardhu in Speyside, Clynelish in the Highlands and Glenkinchie in the Lowlands.

Our tasting notes

The colour is vibrant gold and the nose is smoky, sweet and expressive. Aromas of bonfire ash and coal tar soap mingle with golden syrup and toffee. These are supported by further aromas of milk chocolate, raisin, sultana and a hint of almond and hazelnut. A further hint of caramelised apple and sea spray sit in the background.

On the palate this whisky is initially sugary and sweet with a lovely hit of brown sugar and golden syrup to begin with. This evolves to include the dried fruits from the nose (think of those raisins and sultanas again, plus some candied orange and lime), stewed and sugared green apple, milk chocolate and a pinch cocoa powder. The sugary tang lifts the whisky superbly.

The ashy peat smoke is never far away and underpins the whisky. It weaves itself through the peat smoke elements very well and elegantly integrates itself. There are elements of coal tar soap and drying seaweed (imagine it as the tide has gone out), plus hints of medicinal iodine and dying embers. There is also a little spiciness that develops - think of cracked pepper, warming cinnamon and a hint of clove.

The finish is long and lingering. The peat smoke begins to dominate and this is especially true once the sweet and fruity characteristics die back a little. This gives a warming and particularly drying effect and this drags out the finish in a very pleasing way. A hint of gingerbread also comes through right at the end.

What's the verdict?

This is excellent. The balance of smokiness and sweetness is sublime in this Caol Ila 13 years old Fèis Ìle 2023 Edition. Caol Ila is often underrated and sits in the shadow of some of its more illustrious Islay neighbours, but this whisky shows the quality that consistently comes out of the distillery. 

This transported us straight to Caol Ila and made us think of standing there on the quayside looking over to Jura. The peat smoke lingers so nicely and aids the late switch from sweet to dry. If you are on Islay this week then have a sip and we think you will probably buy a bottle once you have. Delicious.


Another New Distillery for Campbeltown

At one time, Campbeltown was Scotland’s whisky capital with more than 35 distilleries. That number dwindled to just three over the years, but now, planning… Read More

At one time, Campbeltown was Scotland’s whisky capital with more than 35 distilleries. That number dwindled to just three over the years, but now, planning approval is being sought for up to three new distilleries. The latest project is the Witchburn Distillery to be built on the former RAF Macrihanish site, and we’ll talk with project manager and master distiller Andrew Nairn on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. We’ll also hear from Beam Suntory’s Daryl Haldane following the auction Friday of a one-of-a-kind Bowmore single malt to raise money for projects on Islay. In the news, Stirling Council has rejected plans for the proposed Wolfcraig Distillery for a second time, Scotch Whisky Association leaders continue their push to reserve an excise duty hike planned for August, and Jack Daniel’s lost a trademark infringement case in the U.K. to a pair of comedians.

Episode 1006: May 28, 2023

Links: Witchburn Distillery | Bowmore | Scotch Whisky Association | Jack Daniel’s | Wolfie’s Whisky | Gentleman’s Cut Bourbon | Suntory Whisky | Glengoyne | Glencadam | Chattanooga Whiskey | Hirsch Whiskey | Dràm Mòr | Rabbit Hole Distillery | New Riff Distilling | Holladay Distillery