Ardbeg Adds Mythology-Inspired Anthology Collection

Ardbeg Distillery on Islay has announced the release of the second expression in its Anthology collection. The new release, Unicorn’s Tale, is a 14-year-old single malt.

Ardbeg’s Anthology collection is an experimental stage for the distillery, used to try out new and unusual flavour combinations. Each expression is named after a different mythical creature, a nod to the “rare and strange” collection of “hybrids”.

The Unicorn’s Tale has been aged for 14 years in Madeira and bourbon casks. It follows the first release of Harpy’s Tale, which featured whisky from the distillery’s first Sauternes casks.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Whisky Creative Director, explains: “At Ardbeg we love to experiment with new ways to take the smoky balance of our spirit into new worlds of flavour. Some time ago we decided to try maturing Ardbeg in unusual cask types for the distillery to create some sweet and smoky ‘hybrids’. And so the Anthology collection was born.

“The Unicorn’s Tale is the second release in this series, created by marrying classic Ardbeg whisky aged in bourbon casks with a portion of whisky aged entirely in sweet Madeira wine casks. The result is a whisky bursting with notes of banana bread and tropical fruits, fused with Ardbeg’s signature flavours of camphor, lime zest and wood smoke. This 14-year-old whisky may seem sweet in nature, but its smokiness is not to be underestimated!”

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale (46% ABV) will be available at a recommended retail price of £130 from Ardbeg online and at the distillery, as well as selected retailers.