ARDBEG SCORCH RELEASED TO CELEBRATE 2ND VIRTUAL ARDBEG DAY

 ARDBEG SCORCH: ARDBEG'S LATEST LIMITED RELEASE 

Ardbeg is all set for the biggest day in the virtual whisky calendar on 5th June as the team prepares to beam the party right into the living rooms, studies, spare bedrooms and garages of Ardbeggians everywhere.

Ardbeg Committee Members are known for their peaty passion and maverick attitude. So in 2021 Ardbeggians are celebrating 20 years of Ardbeg’s black sheep behaviour, in all its unorthodox guises, with plenty of printable props and interactive activities lined up.

As always, a special Ardbeg Day 2021 bottling will be released: Ardbeg Scorch is the name of the whisky dedicated to the fire-breathing dragon in Warehouse 3 of the distillery- according to Ardbeg’s official announcement. For its new Scorch edition, Ardbeg draws on a legend that the dragon releases a hot blast of scorching, charred flavours.

LIMITED EDITION ON SALE FROM 25TH MAY

The Ardbeg Scorch limited edition goes on sale from 25th May from Ardbeg Embassies and whisky specialists. Scorch knits together velvety summer Fruit Pudding and Bitter Cherry with a deeper edge of Soot and Ardbeg’s hallmark Smoke. Ardbeg will be unveiling the finer details of this incredible dram (and many others) during the live event. If an Ardbeg fan, do be sure to join in on the due date and don’t get left behind!

To be sure, there will be two Ardbeg Scorch bottlings as usual: On April 29, 2021, the Committee Release with 51.7% ABV will be available to members of the Ardbeg Committee. The Ardbeg Scorch General Release at 46% ABV will be available at special retailers and Ardbeg.com from May 25, 2021.

The new limited edition whisky has been released to celebrate Ardbeg Day, which is held annually on the final Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle). It is a global celebration of all things Ardbeg, and will once again take place entirely online this year due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Distillery invites smoky malt whisky lovers to join them on online and social media on 5 June, as fans come together to uncover the 'myth and the malt' behind their new limited edition, Ardbeg Scorch.

The Ardbeg team, by way of elaboration, says: "Islay folk have long told tales of the island’s dragon, bravely slain by a heroic warrior many moons ago. On 5 June 2021, Ardbeggians around the world will celebrate Ardbeg Day with a new whisky created in homage to this ‘true myth’.”

Ardbeg Scorch has been matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks – heavily charred by the fiery exhale of Warehouse 3’s definitely-real-and-totally-not-made-up dragon (otherwise known as the Ardbeg creation team). Intense aromas of soot and smoke lie in wait, while grilled fare and black liquorice mingle with bold notes of medicinal lozenge. Fragrant patchoulie interlaces with bold notes of quenched steel and saddle soap. Billow clouds of sweet smoke and charred oak permeate the palate, as briar wood, sage and pine wisp their way to the fore.

Both whiskies are neither chill-filtered nor coloured. Incidentally, the bottle of the Committee Release is projects a completely different label compared to the General Release as seen on the pics infra.

The whisky for the Ardbeg Scorch was matured in heavily charred ex-Bourbon barrels. The press release describes intense aromas of soot, smoke and grilled food, and liquorice. So the name “Scorch” is the most appropriate and was so selected by the marketing team. They really go strong on the story spun around the Ardbeg Scorch: the fire-breathing dragon in Warehouse No. 3, merrily roasting the barrels and barrel lids.

Ardbeg’s director of distilling and whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, says: “Ardbeg Scorch is our tribute to the legendary dragon of Islay. By using our most heavily-charred casks, we’ve created a fire-breathing beast of a dram." Its a baptism by fire. This new Ardbeg Scorch should have a fiery temperament for a tasting that promises to be mouth-watering.

Tasting notes for the Ardbeg Scorch

Colour: light brushed gold

On the nose: frightening, intense aromas of soot and smoke. Hints of aniseed and fragrant patchouli are intertwined with strong notes of hardened steel and saddle soap. With a drop of water, herbal top notes of briar, sage and pine come to the fore.

On the palate: With the first sip, an abundance of aromas opens up. Oily, meaningful with a cloud of sweet smoke and dragon-charred oak. Grilled food is interwoven with notes of black liquorice and medicinal lozenges.

Finish: A long and heroic finale, with a light, tarry aftertaste that stretches happily and far to the end.

                              

Sources: Website; whisky.de; Rosalind Erskine; dramstreet.com through Pinterestt