This is the first Ardbeg made from a high-gravity mash, with a recipe based on a significantly higher proportion of malted barley. This change in the balance of ingredients creates a real aromatic "force of attraction": fermentation is intensified, revealing deeper, more concentrated and particularly expressive notes. This innovative approach opens up a new dimension in the distillery's iconic peaty style.
Ardbeg Smokiverse has a bright gold color. The nose reveals a fruity and exuberant whirlwind, carried by vibrant esters that evoke ripe exotic fruits. Fresh barley and toasted bread provide a reassuring cereal base, while the peat, although delicate, reveals itself to be surprisingly tropical—an unexpected combination that gives the whiskey a captivating and mysterious dimension. There are also hints of vanilla and honey, subtly enveloped by a soft and lingering smoke. On the palate, the texture is rich, creamy and enveloping, almost unctuous. Warm spices (aniseed, clove) come through strongly, tempered by the sweet roundness of muscovado and notes of melted caramel. Oak, present but never dominant, elegantly structures the whole, bringing balance and depth. A touch of black pepper and candied citrus zest adds a tangy vibrancy, enhancing the complexity of the profile. The finish, persistent and captivating, reveals a more earthy and mineral peat, evoking wood fire embers, damp coal, and dense smoke that lingers on the palate.
Ardbeg Smokiverse is a bold work, a concentrated and expressive reinterpretation of the Ardbeg style. It pushes the boundaries of peat and aromatic complexity, while retaining the distillery's powerful and recognizable DNA.
