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Ardbeg
distillery is celebrating 25 years of
the Ardbeg Committee with the release of
Ardbeg Eureka, a limited Committee
exclusive release which has been created
in conjunction with Committee members.
Eureka is a fusion of Pedro Ximénez
sherry cask-aged whisky and roasted malt
spirit matured in bourbon casks.
Ardbeg is celebrating 25 years of its
devoted fanbase, the Ardbeg Committee,
with the ultimate Ardbeg Committee
exclusive bottling—Ardbeg Eureka!
Ardbeg Eureka has been crafted as a
tribute to its loyal members, this
limited edition whisky was designed to
capture the diverse taste preferences of
thousands of enthusiasts in a single
dram. With its paradoxically complex
notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon, briny
seaweed, and smoke, Ardbeg’s whisky
creators believe they’ve achieved the
perfect blend. Eureka!
A quarter of a century ago, Ardbeg was
rescued from the brink of extinction,
and a group of passionate supporters
formed the Ardbeg Committee to ensure
the Islay Distillery would never close
its doors again. Since then, its now
200,000-strong membership has
passionately debated every nuance of the
whisky they regard as The Ultimate Islay
Single Malt.
To honour the Committee’s enthusiasm,
Ardbeg’s whisky makers invited a select
group to a secret gathering at the
Distillery on Ardbeg Day 2023. Dubbed
Operation Smokescreen, this event
brought together 100 members from 15
countries—representing the brand’s
diverse global following—to taste and
discuss five bold and mysterious Ardbeg
expressions. Inspired by their feedback,
Dr. Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of
Whisky Creation, and Master Blender
Gillian Macdonald set out to craft a
whisky that embodied the Committee’s
wide-ranging tastes.
Months of experimentation led to a
creative fusion of Pedro Ximénez sherry
cask-aged whisky and roasted malt spirit
matured in bourbon casks. The result?
They say is a richly layered dram where
salted crispy seaweed and sweet cinnamon
intertwine with dark-chocolate-coated
raisins and smoldering embers—an
expression as dynamic as the Committee
itself. Delighted with their
achievement, the team fittingly named it
Ardbeg Eureka!
Gillian said: "Operation Smokescreen was
a brilliant opportunity to get inside
the minds of the Ardbeg Committee – and
has inspired our most bespoke Committee
bottling yet. With its medley of
flavours, from cherries and red apples
to briny seaweed and bonfires, topped
with cinnamon and raisin fudge, Ardbeg
Eureka! is packed with a variety of
flavours, inspired by our eclectic group
of Committee members’ tastes, who are
united by their love of Ardbeg’s smoky
and fruity balance. There was a real
eureka moment when, after countless
experiments, Dr Bill and I landed upon
the perfect recipe."
Committee Chair and Ardbeg Distillery
Visitor Centre Manager Jackie Thomson
said: "The Committee have been the
lifeblood of Ardbeg for a quarter of a
century – you won’t find a more
passionate bunch of smoky malt lovers
anywhere else. Ardbeg Eureka! is an
exuberant reward for our members’
dedication. Slàinte mhath to 25 years of
the Ardbeg Committee!"
Bottled at what should be a very
flavoursome 52.2% ABV, and with an RRP
of £72, Ardbeg Eureka! will be available
exclusively to Committee members on
Ardbeg.com from 27th
February, a limited number of bottles
will also be available for those bold
enough to visit the Distillery in
person.
I haven't had the chance to taste it so
I cant comment on its quality but given
the creative process used to produce the
Ardbeg Eureka I am sure it wont
disappoint any Ardbeg fan. I have
posted the official tasting note below
for your consideration.
You will also find the current
Ardbeg whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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