Ardbeg’s Latest Release Was Aged In Sauternes Casks

Forbes Lifestyle Spirits Ardbeg’s Latest Release Was Aged In Sauternes Casks Emily Price Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I cover alcohol, cannabis, and intoxicating travel and adventures. Following Sep 29, 2023, 09:11pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – MARCH 19: Members of the public examine whisky samples inside the Diageo .

. . [+] Claive Vidiz Collection, the world’s largest collection of Scottish Whisky on display at The Scotch Whisky Experience on March 19, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne announced today in his final budget before the Scottish independence referendum, that duty on Scotch whisky is to be frozen. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images When it comes to aging single malt whisky in Scotland, oak is a requirement but if you want to use used barrels, what used to be in them is up to you. Ex-bourbon barrels are the most popular due to obvious reasons; however, you’ll also find quite a few whiskies aged in former sherry casks these days as well as those finished in everything from former rum to mezcal casks.

Ardbeg’s latest release was aged in a new one for me: Sauternes wine casks. The release, Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale, is the first in the brand’s line of experimental and rare whiskies. Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale Ardbeg A harpy is a mythical creature in various mythologies and folklore, often depicted as a bird with the face of a woman.

In Greek mythology, harpies were winged female spirits, sometimes depicted as birds of prey with the heads of women. They were often portrayed as swift and vicious creatures who would snatch food from individuals and carry evildoers (especially those who had committed crimes against the gods) to the Erinyes, the goddesses of vengeance. The whisky was aged for 13 years in a combination of both the traditional ex-bourbon casks as well as sweet Sauternes wine casks.

If you’re not familiar, Sauternes is a sweet white wine from France. It’s something you’d likely enjoy for dessert rather than with a meal, and it’s often so sweet that you’d only have a small glass with a few ounces inside rather than a wine glass full. MORE FOR YOU FC Barcelona Icon Lionel Messi Will Leave Inter Miami In 2025 And Has Chosen New Club To Retire, Report Says One Star Wars Rebels Design Choice Is Making Ahsoka Hard On The Eyes New Pixel 8 Pro Leaks Reveal Google s Exciting Decisions The result is a whisky that sits somewhere in the middle of smoky and sweet.

Ardbeg fans know the brand’s characteristic heavy peat flavor and the Sauternes battle that a bit, creating an interesting balance of smoky and sweet that’s unlike any whisky I’ve had before. On the nose you get aromatic herbs, a bit of lemon peel, and creme brulee. On the palate, there’s a woody sweetness with a combination of stone fruit and eucalyptus oil followed by a sweet and smoky finish or coconut and cardamon.

“We have embarked on a bold maturation experiment to fuse Ardbeg’s signature smokiness with more nuanced, sweeter notes for our new release, The Harpy’s Tale – resulting in a very unusual and complex breed of Ardbeg,” says Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation. “This is a dram that represents a battle between sweet and smoke – one I believe fans are yet to experience in an Ardbeg dram, and one that I’m sure they will be excited to taste for themselves.

” And this release is just the beginning of the series. “Collectively, the whiskies in the Anthology Collection will form a legendary, perfectly balanced and delicious series of rare and unusual Ardbegs, rich in both lore and taste,” says Lumsden. Future releases will also be aged in casks that are completely new to the distillery, leading to perhaps even more interesting releases in the future.

Harpy’s Tale is certainly an unusual dram and is one I’m happy I had the opportunity to try. While having your favorite tried-and-true bottle by your side is always great, so is experimentation, and I love the concept of this series where we’ll have the opportunity to really taste the impact a cask has on Ardbeg, and potentially discover some new favorites through that experimentation in the process. Priced at $164.

99 with an ABV of 46%, Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale will be available for purchase on ReserveBar. com, in Ardbeg Embassies, at the Distillery Visitor Center on Islay and at selected whisky specialists. Follow me on Twitter .

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