Ardbeg debuts Ardcore whisky for Fèis Ìle 2022

Islay distillery Ardbeg has revealed a limited edition single malt called Ardcore to mark this year’s Fèis Ìle festival.

Ardbeg Day is held once a year on the final Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle), which will be held from 27 May to 4 June.

This year’s Ardbeg Day (4 June) will see festivities take place at the distillery, online and at local events worldwide.

Colin Gordon, Ardbeg’s distillery manager, said: “This year will be my first physical Ardbeg Day. We know not everybody can make it to Islay, so we’re delighted to be broadcasting all the day’s antics online too.

“Whether at the distillery or at home, we hope lots of you rock up, punked out and ready to party come 4 June.”

Ardcore has been crafted with roasted black malt, which is a first for the distillery.

The bottling draws inspiration from the brand’s punk past, with Islay’s main port, Port Ellen, going by the nickname ‘Punk Ellen’ in the 1970s.

Ardbeg’s head of distilling and whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, described the whisky as tasting “like biting on a spiky ball”.

He added: “Ardcore is a dram that wears its heart on its sleeve – its black heart.

“Created with roasted black malt, burnt to hair-raising levels, this spirit is all about substance. Notes of charcoal and sweet smoke make for an in-your-face nose, while potent notes of aniseed and dark chocolate stamp this bottle out as one fit only for the most Ardcore of fans.”

On the palate, the liquid delivers flavours of peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and bonfire, while the finish is long and sweet with lingering notes of toffee and soot.

The 46% ABV whisky will be available to buy from Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists, online retailers and from the distillery visitor centre, for RRP £100 (US$131.37).

Earlier this year, Ardbeg launched a 13-year-old whisky, crafted using the longest fermentation in the producer’s history.