So, how exactly did our Whisky Creation Team land on this Eureka! moment? It began with Operation Smokescreen, a clandestine experiment at Ardbeg Day 2023. We invited around 100 esteemed Committee Members from 15 countries to join us for a tasting with a difference. The twist? Only one person in the room knew what, precisely, was in those glasses.
Committee Members tasted 5 different “extreme” versions of Ardbeg – matured in undisclosed cask types – and compared them to our benchmark, Ardbeg Ten. Led by our Head of Whisky Creation, Gillian Macdonald, participants were invited to discuss, debate and document the relative merits of each sample, scribing their innermost thoughts on our trusty Drink Tank.
After lots of note-taking and vote-making, a key finding emerged. This particular sample of Committee Members had a particular penchant for our smoky spirit matured in Pedro Ximinéz sherry casks…
