Ardbeg Day is a global celebration of the iconic Islay Distillery, held annually on the last Saturday of Islay’s Festival Of Music And Malt, Fèis Ìle. With festivities taking place at the distillery and across the globe on Saturday 3 June, Ardbeg marks the event by releasing an experimental Limited Edition whisky, Ardbeg Heavy Vapours. 

Following the distillery’s Planet Ardbeg comic launch last year, a dramatic new storyline in the series will be revealed alongside this new expression, inspired by its unusual creation. And so this year, whisky lovers are invited to celebrate the theme of ‘Planet’ Ardbeg Day, where they can expect to be transported into Ardbeg’s mythical, graphic novel universe. 

For the first time ever at Ardbeg its whisky has been distilled without a purifier; the apparatus on the still responsible for maintaining Ardbeg’s unrivalled balance between extreme peat and floral fruitiness. This creative experiment by Director Of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, has allowed the heaviest and untamed vapours to rise up the still during the distillation process, before being captured, matured and bottled. On the nose, intense and aromatic smoke rises with hints of sweetness. On the palate, surges of bittersweetness disturb ashy coal dust, peppermint and cardamom, before clouds of dark chocolate and eucalyptus roll into disguise Ardbeg’s iconic balance.  

The expression’s unusual distillation process and resulting flavour has been brought to life in the accompanying graphic novel created by celebrated comic artist and illustrator, Dilraj Mann. The plot follows Agent 46 (a.k.a Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg Visitor Centre Manager and Committee Chair), a plucky interplanetary detective on a quest to locate the elusive purifier and restore Ardbeg’s signature balance. 

Ardbeg’s Director Of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, says: ‘A missing purifier is unprecedented for Ardbeg. This experiment was something I’ve always imagined trying. What would happen to the flavour and character of Ardbeg as we know and love it, by distilling in this unique way? Well, it’s now time for Ardbeg fans to find out. This is a full-blown dram where Ardbeg’s exalted balance has been disrupted in the most fantastic of ways; a truly captivating dram.’

Ardbeg Heavy Vapours will be available to buy worldwide from Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists, online retailers, and from the Distillery Visitor Centre. 

For more news on Ardbeg Day 2023 and all things Ardbeg, smoky malt whisky fans can join the Ardbeg Committee.