Ardbeg Day is a global celebration of all things Ardbeg, held annually on the last Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt, Fèis Ìle. To coincide with the holiday, the distillery will release Ardbeg Smokiverse.

Marking 25 years of the Ardbeg Committee, this year’s festivities are set for May 31. The limited edition Smokiverse, aged in bourbon barrels, will be the Islay Distillery’s first whisky crafted from a high-gravity mash, resulting in a distinctly vibrant, tropical and fruity spirit. 

Ardbeg’s Whisky Creation Team began experimenting some years ago with the mashing process, in which malted barley is converted into fermentable sugars. One of their experiments involved reducing the amount of water used in the packed mash tun. 

This unconventional “high-gravity” mash magnified the intensity of flavor-active compounds known as acetate esters, leading to a fruitier, more tropical spirit. Bottled at 48.3% ABV, Smokiverse has an SRP of $124.99.

“The first whisky we have ever made with a high-gravity mash, Ardbeg Smokiverse takes our single malt’s classic peaty character to a new frontier of flavor,” Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, said in a news release. “By ramping up the density of our wort to new heights, we’ve drawn in fruitier, sweeter flavors from the deepest corners of the mash tun.”

Inspired by this high-gravity mash, the Distillery will bring to life a space-inspired universe on Ardbeg Day. Committee Members and their smoky-malt-loving friends can experience the delights of high gravity in the Smokiverse: a place filled with cosmic games, space-themed cocktails, whisky tastings and smoky bites. 

Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Centre Manager and Ardbeg Committee Chair, said, “We’re inviting whisky fans from all corners of the world to join us – both at the Distillery, the beating heart of the Smokiverse, and beyond – to celebrate Ardbeg Day. We’re thrilled to share this whisky with smoky-malt lovers everywhere and send their tastebuds into overdrive with the release of this extraordinary new expression.”

Ardbeg Smokiverse will be available to buy in the U.S. at whiskey specialists beginning May 15, with a pre-sale launching on Reservebar.com in the days before. Ardbeg Committee members will be the first to receive the pre-sale link.

Read more: Ardbeg Celebrates Followers with Eureka! Bottling

About Ardbeg

Established in 1815, during the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Today, Ardbeg is well-established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. For more information, visit https://www.ardbeg.com/en-int/shop/.