Ardbeg’s The Abyss
Whisky from the western Scottish island of Islay is a research within the style of place providing a taste profile inflected with the mixture of sea air and smoky notes from hand-cut peat—a liquid snapshot of terroir that nobody can emulate. Certain, you may toast a barrel or end a spirit in a port cask, even use a single grain malt grown in Scotland and a warehouse for growing old close to the ocean, however you’ll by no means get the distinctive peat notes that signify 1000’s of years of time packed into Islay’s boggy soil. This month Ardbeg provides yet one more layer to the distinctive Islay terroir with the discharge of The Abyss, a whisky born of a rare, unrepeatable 34-year growing old course of. The identify is a nod to the legendary Corryvreckan whirlpool which lies a bit north of Islay however it’s extra precisely a reference to the whisky’s profound, countless depth of taste. The Abyss is really in contrast to any whisky that Ardbeg has ever launched—and this from a model that’s legendary for its artistic and daring takes on growing old and expression.
The expression comes enclosed in a genuinely cool space-age trying silver capsule that calls to thoughts a classic diver’s helmet together with a restricted version graphic novel from acclaimed Marvel and DC comedian artist Tradd Moore. Moore’s vivid illustrations inform the story of Viking prince Breacan who is alleged to have anchored his ship within the whirlpool for 3 days and nights to win the hand of the Lord of the Isles’ daughter, but was finally misplaced to its watery depths. If our honest prince had the Ardbeg Abyss on board, he most definitely would have loved his ultimate days.
Certainly, the closely toasted French oak casks plus 34 years of time equal one of many model’s most extraordinary choices. Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg Committee Chair and Distillery Customer Centre Supervisor, explains the extraordinary nature of the casks: “These ‘ultra-active’ casks had been distinctive in that they’d undergone an uncommon rejuvenation course of after initially holding French wine. A course of that concerned an intense toasting course of that rendered them exceptionally highly effective of their potential to impart taste and shade.”
The complete enterprise is taken into account uncommon and unrepeatable as a result of they’re the final of the 1989 inventory which included a handful of casks that Dr. Invoice Lumsden, director of whisky creation, sourced for the unique 2008 Corryvreckan Committee Reserve bottling. The provider now not makes them. Doing the maths right here one concludes that along with a uncommon spirit aged 34 years you even have never-to-be-seen-again ultra-active casks; uncommon upon uncommon. The tasting notes inform the story finest although—assume decadent s’mores with wealthy chewy notes of darkish chocolate, caramelized marshmallows, pecan nuts and leather-based—accented with the distinct Islay peaty observe.
The restricted bottling options 400 numbered bottles, and at $25,000 per every it definitely is amongst one in every of Ardbeg’s most costly releases—Ardbeg has launched dearer previous and uncommon expressions prior to now, together with The Rollercoaster (launched final yr).
When you miss your probability to personal one of many 400 bottles, however need to style part of the Abyss –which has its roots in Corryvreckan, take coronary heart. The distillery launched 1000 restricted version bottles of core vary Ardbeg Corryvreckan full with a superb label design by Tradd Moore (4 particular person designs can be obtainable, every taken from a body featured in The Abyss’ graphic novel). Obtainable solely from the Distillery Customer Centre on Islay.
The Abyss can be obtainable by way of the distillery’s web site, on the customer heart on Islay, and the Moët Hennessy Non-public Shopper channel worldwide.
The Abyss
