ARDBEG SMOKIVERSE COMMITTEE RELEASE
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
ISLAY, SCOTLAND
WHY BUY:
Attention, Ardbeggians! One of the holiest days in our calendar, Ardbeg Day 2025, is coming up, and we’re here with the single malt you need to celebrate. This year's theme? "Enter the Smokiverse” — and trust us, it's a world you’re going to want to get lost in. Dr. Bill Lumsden (aka the Willy Wonka of Whisky) continues to push himself, and us, and he’s returned with a cosmic-level experiment that's a first in Ardbeg's storied history: employing a 'high gravity' process at the end of the mashing stage that creates a fruitier, juicier wash which, when distilled, yields a fruitier style of Ardbeg. We don’t know how in the world he does it, but the good doctor keeps finding new and fascinating dimensions to what peated whisky can be.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
From the moment this liquid touches your glass, you know you're in for something unusual … and unusually special . The nose presents an explosion of fruity notes that somehow manage to coexist with Ardbeg's signature smoke — imagine smoked bubblegum (yes, really) fusing with ripening barley and toasted sourdough bread. Add a splash of water and you'll unlock dense, sweet, aromatic peat smoke alongside gently smoked tropical fruits … a combination that shouldn't work, but, trust me, absolutely (and thrillingly) does. On the palate, a rich, creamy mouthfeel drifts toward sharp, sooty notes of creosote, aniseed, and clove, while muscovado sugar provides a counterbalancing sweetness. Robust woody notes orbit rich charcoal, creating a tension that keeps you coming back for more. The finish is something else again, all earthy peat moss and sizzling bonfire embers. Where in the world did I end up? you ask yourself — as you eagerly reach for another sip.
THE METHOD:
There's a reason Ardbeg stands apart from other Islay malts: they use the most phenolic malt in the industry, period. But as always, Dr. Bill refuses to let that smoky signature do all the heavy lifting. His genius lies in pushing boundaries while maintaining balance, and Smokiverse demonstrates this perfectly. The high gravity mashing process creates a dense swirl of highly concentrated wort; think of it as the gravitational center of the Smokiverse, pulling in everything in its path. This technique concentrates sugars and creates more complex flavor precursors that, after distillation in Ardbeg's legendary stills, yield a spirit that's both unmistakably Ardbeg yet unlike any previous release. It's this kind of fearless innovation that keeps the Committee coming back for more, year after year.
ABV:
48.3% (96.6 proof).
FUN FACT:
While most whisky creators are content with titles like Master Distiller or Master Blender, Dr. Bill Lumsden prefers something more fitting for his boundary-pushing approach: "Director of Whisky Creation." This title perfectly captures his role as part scientist, part artist, and full-time innovator.
OUR GUARANTEE:
We always buy and source directly from the distiller, so rest assured: your single malt will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Don't miss your one and only chance to enter the Smokiverse. Secure yours today!