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.
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