By Genevieve Jacot-Guillarmod
Rating: A-
(Credit: Genevieve Jacot-Guillarmod)
Ardbeg Eureka! is a limited committee release that was created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee, the distillery’s global fan club.
This whisky has a fairly unusual origin story. On Ardbeg Day in 2023, Ardbeg Committee members from around the world were invited to the distillery to take part in a tasting experiment called “Operation Smokescreen.” They sampled a range of experimental Ardbeg blends and discussed their preferences, which later helped guide the distillery’s team, led by Dr. Bill Lumsden, in developing the final recipe.
The name Eureka! is meant to come from the “eureka moment” the team had when they finally settled on a recipe that they felt successfully incorporated the feedback they’d received and which captured the spirit of the experiment. As a result, this is effectively a fan-influenced Ardbeg release, which is quite interesting!
Like many Ardbeg Committee releases, Eureka! was made available primarily to Committee members through the distillery’s channels, with limited bottles also available from the distillery itself. I was fortunate enough to get a bottle when I visited the distillery last year.
This particular release is a no-age-statement single malt. It’s made from a combination of whisky matured in Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks, and whisky that’s unusually been made from roasted malt (also sometimes referred to as chocolate malt), which was matured in ex-bourbon casks. It’s bottled at 52.2% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
The Scotch
The whisky opens on the nose with a surprisingly gentle waft of campfire smoke – softer than one might expect from Ardbeg! Notes of apricot and a hint of grapefruit. Some honey and vanilla. Beneath this sits a layer of milk chocolate and a faint salty note that gives the whisky a slightly coastal feel. There’s a touch of spice too, with hints of clove, cinnamon, and black pepper.
Upon tasting the whisky, I found there’s an initial pleasant warmth that likely reflects its higher ABV, yet the mouthfeel remained relatively light. Plenty of smoke alongside fudge and honeyed bacon. Some roasted coffee beans, perhaps, and a slightly lingering smoky finish.
While I usually gravitate toward whiskies with a richer, more viscous mouthfeel, there’s a great combination of aromas and flavors here. If you enjoy fruity, peaty whisky, this is an easy one to appreciate.
The Price
Ardbeg Eureka! is available for around $72, which feels like very good value, particularly considering that this limited release is cheaper than both Uigeadail and Corryvreckan.
