ARDBEG BIZARREBQ
Grilling meets distilling
At Ardbeg, all employees know that their whisky isn’t for everyone – but its big, bold, and infamously smoky flavour attracts a level of passion above and beyond anything that a typical whisky brand gets to enjoy. In this series, They wanted to celebrate the smoke-obsessed weirdos of the world: to elevate chefs from around the globe who are doing interesting things with smoky flavours; to complement their mouth-watering meals with delicious new Ardbeg cocktails; and to share the smoky joy of Ardbeg with Ardbeg fans and new whisky drinkers alike.
Ardbeg is launching Ardbeg BizarreBQ – the Distillery’s
first-ever Limited-Edition barbecue-inspired whisky.
You start with a hare-brained idea, you bring together
three unique casks, two masters in their own right, and a whole lot of heat and
smoke… what do you get? You get the Distillery’s first-ever barbecue-inspired
whisky – Ardbeg BizarreBQ. Cooked up by renowned Master Distiller, Dr Bill
Lumsden, alongside bonafide King of the Grill, Christian Stevenson, this
mouth-watering malt packs a meaty, peaty punch. Like grilling, distilling
shares a key element when it comes to the creation of flavour–fire.
In essentially the same way as it is with grilling, there’s one vital
element in creating their first BBQ-inspired malt – fire. Toasting a selection of
three casks using an experimental cask toasting process, the recipe for Ardbeg
BizarreBQ is made up of double-charred oak casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
and the distillery’s unique BBQ casks that have been extra-charred on an
old-fashioned brazier packed with seaweed and birchwood… perfect for BBQ!
Bottled at 50.9% ABV, this Limited-Edition whisky has
been inspired by the Islay Distillery’s ongoing collaboration with Stevenson,
which began in 2020.
Fuelled by a shared obsession for smoke and its rich
flavour possibilities, Dr Bill and Stevenson have been on a mission to create a
new Single Malt that complements both whisky-making and barbequing.
Ardbeg is renowned for its smoky taste, and so the new
expression also marks the next phase of the distillery’s journey to uncover new
ways of experiencing and enjoying smoky flavours. Lumsden said of the new
launch: “Ardbeg BizarreBQ is certainly a hare-brained idea, but with Christian’s
help I was able to cook up something truly incredible. Puffs of charcoal and
soot mingle with smoky wood and aromatic herbs and spices. Deep, warming smoke
follows in flame-grilled steak, chilli oil, cured leather and clove. The
undeniable smell of bonfire and BBQ embers linger in the background. If there’s
one Ardbeg you want with you grill-side, it’s this one."
COLOUR: Glowing Charcoal Embers
NOSE: Puffs of charcoal and soot mingle with smoky wood
and aromatic herbs and spices. Treacle toffee, hickory smoked ham and
cinnamon-dusted espresso rise up.
A splash of water releases distinctively sharp citrus
aromas, along with herbal notes such as fennel and aniseed. Grilled artichokes
and a suggestion of seared meat sizzles the senses. The undeniable smell of
bonfire and BBQ embers lingers in the background.
PALATE: The mouthfeel is alive with spice, like BBQ
ribs smothered in chilli. A myriad of deep, warming smoke follows close behind
in flame-grilled steak, chilli oil, cured leather and clove. Ginger, aniseed
and tar crackle on the palate with an aromatic woodsmoke edge.
FINISH: Features a massive, hot aftertaste,
which lingers on and on with more grilled artichoke, black olives, and a sooty
note that slowly simmers away.
Ardbeg BizarreBQ Limited Edition is available at the
Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay and in Germany, priced at £75. It
will launch in global markets later this year and in the UK in June and will
be available from Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists, online retailers and
from the Distillery Visitor Centre.
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