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.
Marking 25 years of the Ardbeg Committee, this year’s festivities on Saturday 31 May are, the team say, set to be out of this world.
At the distillery and across the globe, Ardbeg will transport smoky malt lovers’ taste-buds to a fruity new dimension, with Ardbeg Smokiverse.
This limited edition 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 flavour-active compounds known as acetate esters, leading to a fruitier, more tropical spirit.
Aged in bourbon casks, this Ardbeg whisky unveils layers of muscovado sugar, ripe barley, and toasted sourdough bread, all culminating in a burst of ripe tropical fruits and sweet peat.
Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Ardbeg’s director of whisky creation, said: “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 flavour.
"By ramping up the density of our wort to new heights, we’ve drawn in fruitier, sweeter flavours from the deepest corners of the mash tun.
"Upon first sip, you can expect a vibrant burst of fruity, ester notes, rather like smoked bubblegum, along with aromas of barley.
"Then peaty notes collide with juicy, tropical fruits, before sinking into a rich depth of muscovado sugar.”
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 taste-buds into overdrive with the release of this extraordinary new expression.”
Ardbeg Smokiverse will be available to buy worldwide from Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists, online retailers, the Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay, and on Ardbeg.com from 28 May.
For more news on Ardbeg Day 2025 and all things Ardbeg, smoky malt whisky fans can join the Ardbeg Committee online.
