Ardbeg's The Abyss
Whisky from the western Scottish island of Islay is a study in the taste of place offering a flavor profile inflected with the combination of sea air and smoky notes from hand-cut peat—a liquid snapshot of terroir that no one can emulate. Sure, you can toast a barrel or finish a spirit in a port cask, even use a single grain malt grown in Scotland and a warehouse for aging near the sea, but you’ll never get the distinctive peat notes that represent thousands of years of time packed into Islay’s boggy soil. This month Ardbeg adds yet another layer to the unique Islay terroir with the release of The Abyss, a whisky born of an extraordinary, unrepeatable 34-year aging process. The name is a nod to the legendary Corryvreckan whirlpool which lies a bit north of Islay but it’s more accurately a reference to the whisky’s profound, endless depth of flavor. The Abyss is truly unlike any whisky that Ardbeg has ever released—and this from a brand that is legendary for its creative and bold takes on aging and expression.
The expression comes enclosed in a genuinely cool space-age looking silver capsule that calls to mind a vintage diver’s helmet along with a limited edition graphic novel from acclaimed Marvel and DC comic artist Tradd Moore. Moore’s vivid illustrations tell the story of Viking prince Breacan who is said to have anchored his ship in the whirlpool for three days and nights to win the hand of the Lord of the Isles’ daughter, yet was ultimately lost to its watery depths. If our fair prince had the Ardbeg Abyss on board, he most certainly would have enjoyed his final days.
Indeed, the heavily toasted French oak casks plus 34 years of time equal one of the brand’s most extraordinary offerings. Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg Committee Chair and Distillery Visitor Centre Manager, explains the extraordinary nature of the casks: “These ‘ultra-active’ casks were unique in that they had undergone an unusual rejuvenation process after initially holding French wine. A process that involved an intense toasting process that rendered them exceptionally powerful in their ability to impart flavor and color.”
The entire business is considered rare and unrepeatable because they are the last of the 1989 stock which included a handful of casks that Dr. Bill Lumsden, director of whisky creation, sourced for the original 2008 Corryvreckan Committee Reserve bottling. The supplier no longer makes them. Doing the math here one concludes that in addition to a rare spirit aged 34 years you also have never-to-be-seen-again ultra-active casks; rare upon rare. The tasting notes tell the story best though—think decadent s’mores with rich chewy notes of dark chocolate, caramelized marshmallows, pecan nuts and leather—accented with the distinct Islay peaty note.
The limited bottling features 400 numbered bottles, and at $25,000 per each it certainly is among one of Ardbeg’s most expensive releases—Ardbeg has released more expensive old and rare expressions in the past, including The Rollercoaster (released last year).
If you miss your chance to own one of the 400 bottles, but want to taste a part of the Abyss –which has its roots in Corryvreckan, take heart. The distillery released 1000 limited edition bottles of core range Ardbeg Corryvreckan complete with a fabulous label design by Tradd Moore (four individual designs will be available, each taken from a frame featured in The Abyss’ graphic novel). Available exclusively from the Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay.
The Abyss will be available through the distillery’s website, at the visitor center on Islay, and the Moët Hennessy Private Client channel worldwide.
The Abyss
