Ardbeg Eureka! 25th Anniversary Committee Release Single Malt Scotch Review

 

The tiny Scottish island of Islay is home to about 3000 people, yet is home to ten working distilleries making some of the peatiest whiskies in the world. They are Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, and Port Ellen, which only reopened a year ago after 41 years. 

 

The tenth is Ardbeg, situated on Islay’s southern coast and founded in 1815 by John Macdougal. In 1838, he sold it to Thomas Buchanan; however, John’s son, Alexander, continued to run operations. Alexander died in 1853, and his sisters, Margaret and Flora, assumed control, along with Colin Hay. Margaret and Flora are one of the earliest female Scotch distillers on record; the first was Helen Cumming, who founded Cardhu in 1824. 

 

Ownership returned to the Macdougals when, in 1922, Alexander Macdougal & Co. purchased Ardbeg in its entirety. Then, in 1977, Hiram Walker acquired it only to shutter the distillery in 1981 due to minuscule demand. Its closure severely impacted the local economy, as while it only employed 18 people, the town relied heavily on the distillery. 

 

In 1987, Hiram Walker was sold to Allied Lyons, and in 1989, the distillery rose from the ashes, only to be mothballed again two years later. In 1997, The Glenmorangie Company purchased Ardbeg, its current owner.

 

There is a thing called the Ardbeg Committee, which is the official fan club of the distillery, and it turns 25 years old this year. It is a 200,000-member strong club; its mission is to ensure that Ardbeg is never mothballed again.

 

“Recognizing the zeal of the Committee’s deliberations, Ardbeg’s whisky creators summoned a select group to a hidden corner of the Distillery on Ardbeg Day 2023, to take part in an experiment named Operation Smokescreen. At the event, 100 members from 15 different countries, a cross-section of Ardbeg’s diverse, global fanbase, tasted and discussed five extreme (and secret) examples of Ardbeg. Then Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, and Master Blender Gillian Macdonald took the findings back to their sensory laboratory, challenging themselves to craft a bottling representing the Committee’s multi-faceted preferences.

 

After months of experimentation, the pair skilfully combined whisky aged in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks with roasted malt spirit matured in bourbon casks in a uniquely complex dram. Salted crispy seaweed and sweet cinnamon jostled with dark-chocolate-coated raisins and burning embers, reflecting the Committee’s eclectic tastes. Thrilled to have succeeded in their experiment, they named their creation Ardbeg Eureka!” – Ardbeg

 

That whisky is in my Glencairn glass today, and I’m ready to share my thoughts with you. I must thank Ardbeg for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. But, before we get there, you need details on this single malt Scotch.

 

Distilled from 100% malted barley, Ardbeg Eureka! matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and Bourbon barrels. It carries no age statement, and a 700ml is slated at $84.99. Ardbeg Eureka! will be available exclusively for Ardbeg Committee members on February 27^th at Ardbeg.com. From there, it will hit select retailers as well as Reservebar.com.

 

Now that we’ve got that out of the way let’s #DrinkCurious!

 

Appearance: I poured this whisky into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The brassy liquid produced a medium rim that stuck like glue until thick, widely spaced tears fell into the pool.

 

Nose: As I brought the glass under my nostrils, I smelled smoked meats, dried cherries, grilled pineapples, pears, chocolate, and oak. As I drew the air through my lips, I tasted chocolate milk.  

 

Palate: Eureka!’s mouthfeel was creamy and mesmerizing, almost begging me to take a second sip. I succumbed as the front of my palate pulled chocolate, raisins, and black cherries. I stopped at this point and savored the moment. I took a third sip, forcing myself to concentrate on the middle and back. Those went from toffee, cinnamon, and salted caramel to oak, black pepper, and clove, respectively.

 

Finish: There was a sensation of cuddling going on in my mouth and throat. The mildish peat (or mild for Ardbeg) cozied up to salted caramel, black cherries, raisins, chocolate, and oak. The duration was 1:24, making it medium-long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I readily admit that I’m a fanboy of Ardbeg and have been for many years. That’s not to suggest it is a perfect distillery; there have been some rare losers and WTF releases. With that said, Ardbeg Eureka! is just enchanting. It is somewhere between Corryvrecken and Uigeadail with a more subtle peat influence.

 

Eureka! may be my favorite Ardbeg expression to date – core expressions or otherwise. Even the price is beyond fair. Don’t sit on the fence with this one. It is well worth buying a Bottle (or six) and never looking back. Wow! Bravissimo!

 

Oh yeah, cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.