Ardcore was the Ardbeg Day release for 2022, built around a punk theme and, more importantly, around a genuine technical first for the distillery. The whisky is made using roasted black malt, barley kilned at extreme temperatures until it is very nearly burnt. Black malt is a familiar ingredient to brewers, where it gives stout its colour and its bitter roasted edge, but it is almost unheard of in Scotch, and Ardbeg had never used it before. The effect is not simply more smoke. Ardbeg is already among the most heavily peated malts made, so adding roast character pushes the whisky somewhere different rather than somewhere louder, toward coffee grounds, burnt toast, chicory and dark chocolate. The nose is spicy and savoury, with marmite, charcoal and infused coffee grounds alongside a classic Ardbeg herbal top note, with bonfire smoke and molasses sitting behind. The palate is fiery and full, delivering cocoa powder, dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot, with aniseed and malty biscuit pushing forward. The finish turns sweeter and runs long, on treacle toffee, soot and smoke. It is bottled at 46 percent alcohol by volume, non chill filtered and at natural colour, so nothing has been stripped out or corrected. This was a one time annual release tied to the Islay festival and it has not been repeated. Drink it neat and give it air, then try a few drops of water, which noticeably softens the acrid edge.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Size |
700ml (70cl) |
| Country |
Scotland |
| Region |
Islay |
| Category |
Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Expression |
Ardcore, Ardbeg Day 2022 general release |
| Mashbill |
Malted barley including roasted black malt |
| Age |
No age statement |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Colour |
Natural, no added colouring |
| Distillery |
Ardbeg Distillery Limited, established 1815 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Golden yellow, natural and uncoloured.
Nose: Spicy and savoury, with marmite, burnt toast, chicory, charcoal and infused coffee grounds, a classic Ardbeg herbal top note, and bonfire smoke and molasses behind.
Palate: Fiery and full, with cocoa powder, dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and soot, joined by amped up aniseed and malty biscuit.
Finish: Long and altogether sweeter, closing on treacle toffee, soot and lingering smoke.
FAQ
What proof is this bottle? It is bottled at 92 proof, or 46 percent alcohol by volume, non chill filtered and at natural colour. This is the general release; a separate Committee Release exists at 50.1 percent.
What is black malt? Barley roasted at very high temperatures until nearly burnt. It is a familiar ingredient in stout brewing but had never been used by Ardbeg before, and it contributes coffee, chicory and dark chocolate character rather than simply more smoke.
Is it flavoured? No. Black malt is a malting and kilning technique applied to the barley before fermentation, not an additive.
What was Ardbeg Day 2022? The distillery's annual celebration held during Fèis Ìle, the Islay Festival of Music and Malt. Ardcore was the 2022 limited edition and has not been repeated.
How does it differ from the Committee Release? Same whisky concept, different strength. The Committee Release was bottled at 50.1 percent and sold exclusively to Ardbeg Committee members. This is the wider general release at 46 percent.
Where can I buy Ardbeg Ardcore online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
